376 A Modern Bee Farm 



very damp weather, otherwise it is placed against the 

 coop to dry, and returned in the evening. Where there 

 is no fear of vermin hay made as a nest, without the board 

 will be more beneficial for the quite young chicks. 



Foster flothers. 



When these are adopted, not more than thirty chicks 

 may be placed together ; the temperature should start at 

 90°, gradually reducing to 75** after the first week. The 

 chicks should be induced to use the runs freely, with 

 plenty, of dry material for them to scratch about, and 

 among which broken wheat or groats should be thrown. 

 The floor of the nest is covered with short hay with as 

 little seed in it as possible. 



As the chicks reach the age of three to four weeks in 

 temperate weather, or six to seven weeks at other times, 

 they are moved to cold rearers, and presently, as they 

 grow and fill out these, are again shifted to larger coops 

 or hutches, having evenly spaced slats across the bottom. 

 At fourteen to sixteen weeks they are ready for 



The Higgler or Fattener, 



the prices being from 3s. in Spring to is. gd. in Autumn ; 

 or when held another month and fattened, they are worth 

 in the London Market 5s. in Spring or 3s. to 3s. 6d. in 

 Autumn. 



The Heathfield district requires over 100,000 fowls weekly 

 for its fattening trade, and from one railway station alone, 

 nearly 100 tons of dead fowls go up during some weeks to 

 the markets. 



None but young fowls are required for this market, and 

 though the 



Cramming Machine 



is generally in vogue, I find birds can be fattened just as 



