74 CHICKS 



coming off at the same time to use only as many for mothers 

 as are necessary to properly care for the chicks; but where 

 chicks are of -different varieties it is best to place some of 

 each kind under the hens that are to be used as mothers,' 

 so that they may be accustomed to their color, as otherwise, 

 they are likely to kill those that happen within reach that 

 are different in color from their own; that is, a hen that has 

 all white chicks will npt tolerate a black or dark colored 

 chick around, but will kill it if within reach. By giving 

 each hen some of each color, where more than one variety 

 is patched, trouble will be avoided and the coops in which 

 such hens are confined may be placed quite near each other, 

 and a chick from one entering another by mistake will not 

 be injured, as the hen will not know it from her own. 

 Separate According to Age, 

 Do not keep chicks of different ages in the same enclosure 

 if it carl be avoided; that is, do not allow those together in 

 which there is a difference of several weeks in age, as the 

 older ones will annoy the younger ones to the extent of 

 retarding their growth. As near as possible keep those of 

 the same age in the same enclosure. From the time the 

 chick is hatched, all along 'through its days of growth and 

 development, keep it free from lice. Lice kill more chicks 

 each season than any other cause, and they must be fought 

 from the start and kept down if one would secure the best 

 results. After chicks are placed in brood coops it is a good 

 plan to dust both hen and chicks once a, week for the first 

 few weeks, then at longer intervals, through the season. To 

 dust the chicks use a good powder blower and when chicks 

 are under the hen raise her carefully and blow the insect 

 powder on the chicks, it may make them blink and snap 

 their eyes, but will not hurt them; to dust the hen thorough- 

 ly take her from the coop, place her upon her back with 

 wings outspread, then place a knee on each wing and blow 

 the powder all along her breast and body, then take her in 

 the hand and blow powder in the feathers of the back and 

 neck. .This style of treatment of hen and chicks once a 

 week for the first few weeks will pretty well clear up the lice. 

 Do not dust hen and chicks the same day, but about three 

 or four days apart. The dusting of the hen will very often 



