Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-27
Care and Attention
Should Be Given to
Chicks After Weaned
Chicks Should Be Fairy Well Feath-
cred Before Weaned-Dryness Es-
sential, Both in House and Yard.

When chicks are forced to look aft
er themselves by being weaned by
their mother, or are changed from 4
brooder to a brood coop is when they
begin to demonstrate their inheritance
of strength and vigor or their lack Of
1t. When these changed conditions
take place, then it is that they must
depend almost wholly upon their own
resources. Then they must depend
upon the warmth of their feathers
and internal heat The chicks. if
hearty and healthy, viii push forward
in rapid growth to maturity. Strong.
healthy parentage makes itself felt. as
do also all the conditions of food
feeding, care and management. The
age at which chicks should be weaned
or removed from the brooder depends
upon the variety Of considerations
the condition of the chicks them
selves as to advancement the climatic
conditions of the season. The little
fellows should be fairly well feath-
cred and able to withstand. to a rea-
sonable degree. the sudden changes
that frequently come in almost any
section of the country. Much depends
upon the breed. the season and care
with which they are to be handled
The smaller, laying breeds feather
out very quickly. and should be pref
ty well feathered and ready to col
onize by the time they are eight
weeks old, and will stand quite cool
weather if they are only kept dry. The
American breeds and common mix
lures about that size and type will
require about ten weeks for the same
process. While they are heavy. Asiat-
ic breeds are very slow maturing and
require from three to four months TO
get anything like a good covering
The weather conditions are very
strong factors in the rearing of chicks
after they are weaned Dryness IS
very essential both in the houses and
the yards. While dampness and chilly
winds are very likely to cause trouble.
on the other hand hot sultry weather
often has a bad effect when they can
not escape from their unhealthy con
dition. There is nothing like plenty
room and ventilation. All brood coops
should be provided with good wire
fronts to provide the ventilation, and
at the same time to prevent intrusion
from night providers. 1t is advisable
al all times to avoid crowding, and
there is only one way to do that, and
that is by not allowing a great num-
Der to roost in one coop or mouse. 40
matter how large it may be, for when
the nights become cool, they will hud-
die into small space, and those which
happen to be about in the middle
must suffer Chicks of about the
same size and vigor should only be
allowed in the flock. Any weaklings
should be culled out and placed with
a younger lot. This will not only be
an advantage to the weakly ones, but
will make a more uniform looking
| lot out of each. Separating the sexes
| is a profitable proposition, and in the
case of the smaller or laying breeds
or mixed and common chicks of that
| type the separating should take pla q
at weaving time. This will give both
| the cockerels and the pullets a much
| better chance for making good
growth, and their management can
/ be so much better adapted 10 the pur-
! pose in view for each. If the ttOcks
can be separated and given unlimited
range. so much the better. Where
chicks can be allowed the run Of
growing corn, 1t makes an ideal run
conducive to growth. Where it be-
comes necessary. on account of the
garden the nearnesS to neighbOrs Or
similar reasons, TO yard the young
ones, the fence may be made tight by
12-inch board or a strip OF 1-inch
mesh wire. and the balance Of regu-
iation poultry wire. Where chicks
have only limited space, IL is a good
thing to spade up at least part of the
yard quite often with grain scattered
about in it. Protection from the eX-
IRENE heat in summer should be pro-
vided If there is not already shade
trees in the yards. Old canvas Or
awnings Of some kind can easily be
arranged and are fully appreciated
by the youngsters. Another very
profitable thing where heavy. sudden
showers are common are little shell
ters easily reached by the little ones,
They will save many a chick from an
untimely death These little emer-
gency shelters need not be any more
than two or three wide boards slanted
against the fence or supported in any
other similar manner to run the
water off. No chicken coop or house
should be a hCtbox in the day time
or at night Screen the front. also
windows and doors, to allow good cir
culation. OF course, good, wholesome
food is necessary to provide rapid
growth. Avoid all sour mixtures of a
sloppy nature, except sour milk OF
curd. which is good and Wholesome.
Dry grains and feed of that nature
are advisable. Keep them filled up.
Rapid growth requires full and COM
plete feeding.