CHICKS 



INTRODUCTION 



Success in hatching and rearing the chicks is absolutely 

 necessary for profitable poultry keeping. The fe^ncier, 

 the egg farmer and the market poulterer must produce every 

 year a certain greater or less number of chickens. The 

 fancier must have cockerels and pullets for exhibition 

 and sale, the egg man must have pullets to lay, the poulterer 

 must have tender broilers and roasters for his trade and 

 all must replape the stock sold, or aged beyond its useful- 

 ness. 



This young stock is required to be good or it will not 

 satisfactorily and profitably serve its various purposes; 

 the mere fact' that it has been brought from the shell and 

 made to live tuitil it is time to market it, or to maturity, 

 as the case may be, is no guaranty that it will sooner or 

 later -return a fair rate of interest on its cost. Thousands 

 of chicks are hatched each year and placed in brooders, 

 which, either because of weakness in the parent stock or 

 improper incubation, are practically worthless, so far as 

 their ability to make good growth and development is con- 

 cerned. Other thousands which leave the shell strong 

 and healthy are spoiled in the rearing, so that they reach 

 the profit-turning age in such condition that they are unfit 

 for the purposes of their owners. 



The only chick that is profitable is the one well hatched 

 and well reared, so that it possesses health and vigor. This 

 indicates the necessity of -proper incubation, healthful 

 brooding, correct feeding and inteliigent care. It seems 



