ICAlTAOEMliNT OF CHICKENS. 95 



late in the autumn, say in October or November, it is an advan- 

 tage— tliat is, if you are in a Mrly-sheltered, warm, dry spot-r- 

 for chickens hatched in December and January bring in a hand- 

 some profit in the shape of "spring chickens." There is, of 

 course, a good deal of risk, and immense, care must be taken of 

 the young birds during the cold weather, but if the situation is 

 good it is -well worth a trial. 



By the end of June, or early in July, pullets hatched in Decelni- 

 ber should, if they have been really well fed, be commencing to 

 lay. Tour early chickens will not, perhaps, be as strong as those 

 hatched two months after, say in February and March. This is 

 one reason why they should be reared for table. In any case I 

 should not breed from birds hatched in the poldest winter months; 

 but in the case of pullets, if I did not kill them all off as "spring 

 chicks," fatten and kill them whenthey had finished laying, and 

 before they began to moult; for, birds hatched, say in March or 

 April, would be really much stronger, and "selected" ones for 

 keeping out of such broods be more to be depended on to supply 

 the place of some of the old stock i/ you mean to kill any of 

 them off. 



If you wish to fatten "spring chickens" quickly for market, 

 when they are about two'months old confine them in coops and 

 feed chiefly with moist food. In my opinion a fowl allowted its 

 liberty has a better flavor than one Confined and fed up in a coop, 

 but it certainly does not put on flesh so quickly nor yet get so 

 ,thoronghly plump and tempting-looking when trussed ready for 

 market, therefore I should advise that those chickens fattened 

 for sale should be kept in coops and fed up, while those for home 

 use should be allowed their liberty until they were really wanted 

 by the cook. 



With regard. to foxes, rats, and such vermin, your best safe- 

 guard against them is to house all your stock at night, and see 

 yourself that their numbers are all right. . 



