66 CHICKS 



ing chicks. They are fed twice a day after soft feeding is 

 once commenced and as the chicks grow the number is in- 

 creased to five when they are fully feathered out and are 

 on the range independent of the care of mother hen. At 

 night wheat is usually fed, though cracked com is given at 

 times for variety. 



Dry Mash Sometimes Useful. 



It has its advantages like hopper feeding. The food is 

 always there. The smaller and weaker chicks are sure of 

 a good meal when it is wanted. When used in connection 

 with the regular feeding it works well if the wet mash and dry 

 mash are of different constituents and flavor, the chicks 

 eating well of both. When hopper feediijg is in practice, 

 two damp mash feeds will take the place of the five, even 

 during the longest days. 



Cooping tHe Chicks. 



Fifty chicks and four hens are put into one of our summer 

 coops. These coops are eight feet long, four feet wide, three 

 and one-half feet high in front and two and one-half feet high 

 at the rear. The front is open except for lattice work and 

 inch mesh wire put on over to keep out animals. It is 

 necessary that the hens that are put into such coops be those 

 that have been sitting together. Otherwise they will not 

 get along peaceably. 



Separate the Sexes. 



The cockerels are separated from the pullets when yoimg. 

 We have two large fields, containing, together over forty 

 acres about one-half a mile apart. The pullets, are taken 

 to one field and the cockerels to the other. Separating 

 leaves usually twenty to twenty-five pullets or cockerels 

 in a coop. Here they are kept until it is very cold or until 

 snow comes. 



