CHAPTER XXIV 

 CARE OF YOUNG STOCK 



The hatching season is admitted to be the critical period for 

 the poultry keeper. It is the time when affairs are most pressing, 

 and when the prospects for next season's flock are either secured 

 or discouraged. As soon as this season is past, and the brooders 

 and incubators have cooled off for the last time, say about the 

 first of August, poultrymen are likely to relax their vigilance, 

 which is natural enough, except that it must not be carried to 

 extremes. 



When chicks reach the age of four weeks, and are fairly well 

 feathered, they are as good as grown, barring accidents, and pro- 

 viding they receive reasonable care. Most of them are inde- 

 pendent of their mothers or brooders, and quite competent to 

 shift for themselves; yet too much confidence must not be re- 

 posed in them. Young chickens are susceptible of indiscretions, 

 just as are children. They need a watchful eye more or less at 

 all times for best results. 



The breeder who gets the most from his flock is the fellow with 

 this watchful eye, to see that all are sufficiently fed, that they 

 are not tortured by vermin, that they are not menaced by rats, 

 hawks, crows and other pests, that none are killed accidentally and 

 their bodies left to decay in some obscure place where the rest 

 of the flock can eat this putrid matter, with its resultant ill efifects. 

 They must have an abundance of clean, cool water. They must 

 have plenty of green food, and an opportunity to roam for insect 

 life and mineral food. 



Exercise. — They must have plenty of exercise, especially in 

 the cool morning hours or in the late afternoons. Exercise 

 sharpens the appetite and encourages eating large quantities of 



325 



