50 The Hen at Work 



but there is some danger here. Unless they have 

 prize birds, many fanciers dispose of such pens 

 rather than return them to the home flock, for 

 much disease has been brought home in this way. 

 The danger is not great, however, if the hens seem 

 lively, and not too much worn by their experience. 

 We may at least feel assured that they are high- 

 grade stock, or they would have not been exhibited. 

 Never buy chickens from shows tmless for some 

 special reason, as their vitality is very low after a 

 night and day performance. Always keep hens 

 brought from shows in quarantine at least ten 

 days, before allowing them to run with other birds. 



The quarantine rule is a safe one in any case 

 when adding foreign stock, but as few people with 

 small flocks have extra space, it is usually safe to 

 take birds from the flock of a reputable and expe- 

 rienced dealer without fear of illness. 



Spring Hatching.— When the spring arrives, 

 whether we have decided to start with mature 

 fowl or not, the time comes when we shall want to 

 start out with chicks, for certainly half the fun 

 comes in raising the chickens and having the 

 broilers and soft roasters. 



There are four ways of starting chickens, each 



