Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-04-30
THE YOUNG FOWLS
(By J. c. W.

.''Nt mao OIL liNCu al axe where Il
may be said to be raised. Whatever
dangers may be before it are exter
nal; barring accidents, it will reach
maturity. But "raised" in this sens
is not synonymous with fully
grOwn"-chicken will double OF
treble its present size; nor is il
synonymous with developed" for
though the only dangers which
threaten it's existence are of an &C.
cidental nature, there are dangers to
the characteristics which it will pos.
sess when it becomes fully matured
Between the broiler and the mature
stage the characteristics of the
chicken may be made or marred:
they are susceptible to great changes
for better or worse; and the develop
ment of these characteristics becomes
an important consideration to the
poultry breeder.
The specific work of development
may then be said to begin with the
chickens at the broiler age. This is
an arbitrary, rather than an actual
starting point, because development
really begins with the first meal
which the chickens eat. Up to this
time, however, the mind has been
directed rather to the problem of
securing the life and growth of the
chickens than to the bringing out
and unfolding the characteristics
which they shall exhibit at matur-
ity. The starting point, though arbi-
trary, is convenient for discussion.
Culling the Chicks.
The specific work of development
of the chickens, as above defined, is
that necessary process known as GULL
ing. The chickens have now arrived
at stage where the experienced
breeder can distinguish the best from
the poorest, though there will be not
a few which will remain in a doubt.
full class. All those with pronounced
defects shold be removed and mar
keted, in order that more room may
be provided for the others, and more
attention given to them. AS the
chickens grow older this process will
be repeated, probably more than
once, SO that in the end only the 1T
test will survive, but as yet only
those which are clearly unfit for fur
Their development can be safely re-
moved.
Having removed the unfit, the
breeder will now see to it that the
are fed literally and upon
proper rations to promote growth,
not only of muscles and fat, but of
bone and feather. The feeding will
not vary materially from what it has
hitherto been and certainly no sud.
len changes will be made in the diet.
Such changes would upset the diges-
Ion, and the development would be
seriously interfered with. Constant,
steady, uninterrupted growth is de.
tired. A slight sickness often, and
severe sickness always, will prevent
he chicken from becoming what it
night have been. One season I had
n fine brood of chickens one which |
stood out plainly and clearly as supe-
'ior to all the others. It was cock
rel. larger in size. better in shape,
Ind more promising In every other
aspect than any other member of !,
he brood. But he unfortunately was
AIKEN sick, and though he recovered |
n week or two, he lost his preemi-
fence, became one of the smallest
md poorest Of the brood, and ended
lis days upon the table. Other sim
lar cases I have noted at various !
lines with like results, though none
vas quite SO pronounced as this one.
10 far as possible. therefore, one
ught to take every precaution to :
revent any sickness occurring, and
ertainly one can prevent sudden {
hanges in diet which almost inva-
iably interfere with proper diges-
ion and assimilation of food.
Green Food Important.
In developing the birds, so far as
depends upon diet, green food plays
n important part. and two green
pods deserve to be pointed out by
anne. Young white clover is one of !
he very best, and the breeder who '
an allow his developing chickens
ccess for an hour or two each day '
} patch of white clover deserves !
} be considered fortunate The s
Their food, which, with a little fore
light. can always be provided. is
prouted oats. AS a green food, pure
nd simple, consider sprouted oats
ecidedly inferior to white clover. but ;
8 food, combining the value of an
xcellent grain with the advantages '