PROFITABLE MARKET CHICKENS 115 



rfrom a small trough hung on the partition. This may be 

 removed and cleaned at will. ; ' 



Colony Houses for Young Chicks. 



At the age of eight to ten weeks, according to conditions, 

 the chicks are removed to the colony houses. Fifty are put 

 into each house. There are sixty of these houses in two 

 groups, twenty-three in one group and the remainder in the 

 other. The chicks are fed by the hopper method, though 

 that is varied somewhat. The poultryman makes the round 

 with a horse and truck in the morning with his barrel of 

 water and a" supply of grit and scraps. On certain .days the 

 hoppers are filled up with grain. When first put in these 

 houses the chicks are fed a mixed feed consisting of cracked 

 com, wheat, oats and barley. After they acquire five 

 pounds or more of weight they are fed cracked corn^ and 

 Scraps only. The scraps are supplied every day, but the 

 corn is fed in hoppers. 



This method enables a man to look after a great many 

 birds and if successful it is proof that poultry does not need 

 to be coddled or kept in germ-proof ovens. 



Good Prices Obtained. 



From May twentieth to July first the best prices are paid 

 for these capons. It does not always pay to hold them for 

 the top prices as there is a time when they go back, or 

 fall off in weight, and what is gained in price is lost in weight. 

 The Light Brahma pullets are usually sold in March or April. 

 Thirty cents a pound live weight is often received for capons 

 and they have been sold at thirty-three cents on the South 

 Shore. These capons usually weigh eight pounds each and 

 ten is not uncommon. The largest bird that Mr. Smith 

 ever sold brought him f4.28. ' Any fancier has very fair 

 specirhens that he would gladly dispose of at that figure, 

 ^ after he has spent considerable money advertising them. 



