WEANING THE CHICKS 83 



Have the houses built of a size in keeping with the 

 number of birds to occupy them. Overcrowding is 

 bound to result in trouble for the operator — the 

 stunting of the chicks, disease or deaths. Have the 

 front so arranged that the sun will penetrate almost 

 every part of the house at certain times during the 

 day. Plenty of sunshine with good ventilation will 

 do more to keep away disease than all the disinfec- 

 tants on the market. 



These houses should have removable roosts, built 

 rather low, so that the young stock will have no diffi- 

 culty in getting on to them, and also preventing the 

 danger of injuries to their feet from too high a jump 

 on the hard floor below. I recommend removable 

 roosts to facilitate the cleaning of the houses. 



Before the chicks are removed to the new quar- 

 ters, the houses should be given a thorough white- 

 washing, thus making them sanitary and almost 

 vermin proof. The chicks should also be closely ex- 

 amined for lice before occupying the new homes, 

 and at the least sign of any vermin they should all 

 be well dusted with insect powder. 



Do not give the growing chicks any opportunity 

 to roost upon the cross studdings. If such are used 

 in the construction of the house cover them with a 

 slanting piece of wood which makes it almost im- 

 possible for them to perch on. The roosts should 

 also not be round, as such roosts are apt to cause 

 crooked breastbones. Always use flat roosts about 



