The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31

WIDE RANGE DESIRABLE
NJ pROr. r. II. sTONERURN.

the motllerly hen and enter upon the
more independent life OF tho colony coop
and range The prevailing weather con-
ditlons. the season of the year. the size
and vigor Of the chicks. the abundance
of their coats OF feathers, all have a
bearing upon the matter. and all should
be considered. II Is waste OF labor
and fuel to hold the chicks in the brood.
ers longer than necessary. on the other
hand. much Joss may be caused by trans
ferring them too early
one will do well to let the youngsters
Indicate when they are ready. Whei.
they foresa<e the warmth OF the hover
and spend the night outside the hover
curtains. they may safely he shifted.
occa sionally 1t may he advisable TO leave
the weaker Individuals in the breeders
for a short timo, but ordinarily the whole
brood may be moved together
on farms where tho colony system OF
brooding Is practised. portable orooders
being placed in colony houses. the ma
chine--not the chclls-is removed. This
simpliiles the matter, AZ the chicks re-
main In their accustomed quarters. ana
do not require breaking IN" TO new
home. Youngsters raised by hen power
may also he permitted 10 make their
headquarters in the small cvops after the
hen has been replaced IN the laying flock
provided these small structures are SUN
ciently roomy. Even II 1t Is necessary to
place these In q different location. the
chicks seem 10 recognize their old home
and accept the transfer without causing
trouble.
Those who use the pipe system OF
brooding or the ordinary outdoor type
II brooders. must or Necessity provide
colony houses. to which the youngsters
must go when sufficiently developed.
The exact shape and size OF these
houses matters little. provided they are
large enough to accommodate comfort
ably the number Of birds placed In them
are well ventilated and afford protection
from and storm and such proving
enemies "a may visit them. The poultry
man who values his timo viii also see to
II that all such structures are so planned
as to mako easy the work OF cleaning
them
While earth floors are desirable for
many reasons. board floors are usually
preferred for coops which are frequently
vnoved from place to place. The latter
AFFORD protection against dampness and
those enemies which dig their way under
the walls. Further. they save the labor
of trenching and filling. which Is SO neces-
sary where dirt floors are used.
Wherever possible the growing stock
should be given liberal range. II must
be admitted that good chicks may he
successfully grown IN small runs, hut
this entails much additional labor more
attention to detail and greater care In
keeping everything in sanitary condition
n m unrestricted range ~ available, and
the chicks may be permitted to care for
N,.-, -.
plifled. II Is almost universally con-
coded that--other things being equal
stock grown on free range H. much SUI
rerior TO that produced under intensive
conditions
or course the above refers only to the
frownG NJ laying anu breeding stock.
Youngsters designed Tor market AZ broilei
age may better bc kept in small runs
where they may be properly fattened nnt
prevented from taking unlimited exercise
which develops hard muscle.
Tho ideal range includes grass and or
chard or woodland. tract OF CROWNS
corn Is also most desirable, since Il NJ
fords protection from sun and hawks ant
insures plenty OF loose earth. In which
the birds delight TO scratch and wallow
" a small stream runs through the range
40 much the better. This will furnish
constant supply Of the essential fresh
water. and will also he n great source
dry weather OF midsummcr.
The ideal number OF chicks to place
In one colony IN about fifty. This uni
IL small enough to give each individual
p fair chance to reach full development
and large enough 20 econornize labor
In many cases 100 chicks are housed TO
gether when taken from the brooder!
and the number reduced later by sending
the cockercls and Gull pulets to market
This procedure usually cuts the hocl
down to fifty or less This plan works on
we'll II the surplus stock II removed early
But II not infreUuently happens tina
through pressure OF other work or neg
lect the cullng Is not done promptly
and the small coops become overcrowded
TO the great injury Of their tenants. |
must not be forgotten that though tn
chicks grow rapidly. the coops do not
aud that shelter which comfortably nc
commodities hundred chicks at weaninl
ago will not do so after the latter hav
made considerable additional development
When removing the chicks from III
breeders, handle them carefully IN ordc
10 avoid undue excitement. Take al
vantage Of this opportunity to attend Z
several important matters. Inspect 20
markings and fix any which are becoming
obscured. Sort the stock carefully, =
that II possible each flock will consist o
individuals OF the same sex and siat
Carefully mark all which seem lackin
in strength and vigor SO they may h
marketed when sufficiently grown and no
find their way into the breeding pens
When the youngsters are first place
In strange quarters they frequently crow
together pile up In the corners an
many ara thus Injured or killed Tn,
may be overcome by using cold hover,
80 arranged that crowdng Ia prevented
Make n table. say three to four fee
square with legs SIX 10 eight inches higl
Tack a slashed curtain 10 the edge, clea
around. reaching nearly to the floor. So
this in the centre OF the floor The chick
will naturally run under this shelte
which, TO IA certain extent. replaces III
warm hover 10 which they have been nc
customed. The animal heat retained b
the curtains will prevent chilling, and
they begin to crowd there Is no chance {
any being caught In corners and crushe,
This hover may soon be dispensed viii
entirely.
IL Is a good plan TO confine the flo,
in the house for II day or so until q
latter IL recognized as home. Or bette
provide small temporary yard In whlt
tue chicks may be confined for fe
Gays until entirely accustomed to the
surroundings. This will go far towal
preventing them from wandering VIII.
given full liberty. something which Is
be avoided II possible.
The period between leaving the broo
ers and entering the laying pens Ia o,
OF rapid growth for the chicks. Duri,
ma hall