CHAPTER XIV 



DEVELOPMENT OF CHICKS 



Upon the activity of a brood of chicks depends their 

 rapid growth and development. Chicks which are 

 not active will not take to the food as they should, 

 nor will they develop their tiny muscles to such an 

 extent as to give them the proper amount of bodily 

 strength. Good appetites mean healthy chicks, and 

 healthy chicks are bound to grow. 



Keep the chicks moving and don't bridle them 

 up in a small space where exercise is impossible. 

 When chicks are about ten days old they should 

 have access to a run, not necessarily a large run, but 

 one sufficiently roomy to permit them to scratch 

 and play. Cover the floor of this run with an abun- 

 dance of chaff, short cut alfalfa, cut clover, or some 

 other similar material which gives them something 

 to scratch in. If the dry grain feeds are scattered 

 in this litter you may rest assured the little fluffy 

 fellows will do their share of scratching. It is 

 very interesting to see them work, digging down 

 in the chaff and throwing it all about them and en- 

 joying the grains when they get them. It denotes 

 life in the little flock and makes one feel that they 

 are contented and happy. 



Another good form of exercise is to hang up a 

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