286 



Milk Chickens. 



[JULY, 



Lakewood 7,000 hens form the total flock, and, therefore, 

 3,500 pullets are produced each year to replace the two-year- 

 old hens thrown out. Hence 8,000 to 9,000 chickens must 

 be hatched for that purpose alone, of which half will prob- 

 ably be cockerels. The profitable sale of these is all- 

 important, and as the price realised for squab-broilers has 

 been from 3s. to 6s. per couple, instead of cockerels costing 

 more than their sale value they have left a handsome profit. 

 Equal results could not be obtained with operations on a 

 small scale, for which reason it is evident that those who 

 can make the most money from the rearing of milk chickens 

 are, apart from general farmers, such as can use what may 

 fairly be termed surplus stock for this purpose. 



Rearing. — For the first few weeks the chickens are fed and 

 reared in the usual way, either by natural or artificial means. 

 With the lighter breeds, such as Leghorns, Minorcas, 

 Campines, &c, the sex may be distinguished at from four 

 to five weeks old, when the cockerels should at once be 

 separated from the pullets, and fed specially for a fortnight 

 prior to killing. During this period they should be in a 

 sir. all, well-lighted house, and are better if not allowed out in 

 the open, except for a short time every day. 



Feeding. — The food should consist of oatmeal or ground 

 oats, alternated with cooked rice, both of which should be 

 prepared with soured skim milk, and a little pure fat, say 

 half a pound per 100 birds per diem, should be mixed with 

 it. In addition a very little small grain, wheat for prefer- 

 ence, may be scattered among cut chaff on the floor once a 

 day to induce exercise. Grit and green stuff should be 

 supplied in abundance. It need hardly be said that neither 

 artificial heat nor the natural care of the hen is required 

 during this final period, as the springing of the comb is a sign 

 that the maternal care is no longer needed. This feeding 

 brings the birds into plump, fleshy condition. If feeding 

 is prolonged the first moult takes place, during which the 

 flesh will be reduced, and the lighter breeds will not come into 

 as good condition again. With the heavier races the sex 

 cannot be distinguished so early, and that is why they are 

 killed late^, when they are larger in body. 



In America squab-broilers are fed during the last ten to 



