178 The Hen at Work 



This means full crops at bedtime, a more rapid 

 development, and eggs earlier in the fall. Feed 

 no more wet mash than they will eat clean. The 

 box of dry mash insures each one of enough food, 

 even if all do not fill quite up on the wet mash. 



Stale Bread. — Near many cities, in ordinary 

 times, stale bread can be bought from large baker- 

 ies at a low figure. This is a most appetizing and 

 useful food for chickens. After soaking, it may 

 become half of the evening mash. Keep it in a dry 

 place, as it is not a safe food when mouldy. 



Cull out the Rtints. — When the fowls are yotmg, 

 the runts and chickens that are off shape and size, 

 may easily be seen and picked out. Now is the 

 time to do it. Amateurs frequently leave such 

 chickens a little longer, and a little longer, to see if 

 they won't catch up. They never do catch up, 

 and are an expense only. Later on it is not so easy 

 to pick them out, and many a flock has several 

 dead-heads, who get their food and lodging free, 

 and lay no eggs. These might, and should have 

 been culled out when young, saving trouble and 

 expense. 



Separating Roosters. — It is a common custom to 

 separate the sexes as soon as they can be picked out, 



