Charlevoix county herald., 1915-01-30
For Poultry Raiser

the chickens to the brood coop. The
hen should be busted every two
weeks or as often as necessary until
the chickens are weaned. If lice be-
come thick on the chickens, or if
they are troubled with "head lice"
very little grease, such as lard or
vaseline, may be applied with the
fingers on the head, neck, under the
wings, and around the vent. Great
care should be taken, however, not to
get too much grease on the chickens,
as it will stop their growth and in
some cases may prove fatal.
The brood coop should be cleaned
at least once a week and kept free
from mites. If mites are found in
the coop, it should be thoroughly
cleaned and sprayed with kerosene
oil or crude petroleum. From one to
two inches of sand or dry dirt or
thin layer Of straw or fine hay should
be spread on the floor of the coop.
Brood coops should be moved weekly
to fresh ground, preferably where
there is new grass. Shade is very
essential in rearing chickens, espe-
cially during warm weather; there
fore, the coops should be placed in
the shade whenever possible. A corn
field makes fine range for young
chickens, as they secure many bugs
and worms and have fresh ground
to run on most Of the time, due to
the cultivation Of the ground, and
! have abundant shade at the same
time.
Toe punch or mark all the chick
ems before they are transferred to
the brooder or brood coop, so that
their age and breeding can be read
lily determined after they are ma
tured. Farmers frequently keep old
hens on their farms and kill the
younger hens and pullets, because
they are unable to distinguish be-
tween them after the pullets have
| matured.
Brood COOps.
Chickens Matched during the win
| ter should be brooded in a poultry
house or shed while the outside wea-
Their conditions are unfavorabe; aft
er the weather becomes settled, they
should be reared in brood coops out
of doors. Brood cOops should be
made so that they can be closed at
night, to keep out cats, rats, and
other animals, and enough ventila-
ton should be allowed so that the
hen and chicks will have plenty of
fresh air. Details and specifications
for building good coop are given
in the Departments Farmers Bulle-
tin SD, Poultry House Construc-
tion," page 13, which is to be had on
application.
The hen should be confined in the
coop until the chicks are weaned,
while the chickens are allowed free
range after they are a few days old.
Where hens are allowed free range
and have to forage for feed for
themselves and chicks, they often
take them through wet grass, where
the chicks may become chilled and
die. Most Of the feed the chicks Sc
cure in this manner goes to keep up
the heat Of the body, whereas feed
eaten by those that are with a hen
that is confined produces more rapid
growth, as the chicks do not have
so much exercise. Then, too, in most
broods there are one or two chicks
that are weaker than the others, and
if the hen is allowed free range the
weaker ones often get behind and
out Of hearing Of the mothers cluck
and call. In most cases this results
in the loss and death Of these chicks,
due to becoming chilled. If the hen
is confined the weddings can always
find shelter and heat under her. and
after few days may develop into
strong, healthy chicks.
The loss in young chicks due to
allowing the hen free range is un-
doubtedly large. Chickens frequent
ly have to be caught and put into
their coops during sudden storms,
as they are apt to huddle in some
hole or corner where they get chill
led or drowned. They must be kept
growing constantly if the best re-
suits are to be obtained, as they
never entirely recover from checks
in their growth even for a short pc
Rod. Hens are usually left with
their young chicks as long as they
will brood them, while some hens