Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-29

and many will be SuffOcdred unless
the house is made cOrnerless. Wire
makes the best protection, for if the
chicks do crowd up against the wire,
the ones nearest the wire can get
plenty of air through the wire.
Chicks from the time they are
weaned from the mother hen or
artificial heat until quite matured
or ready to lay we will call young
or growing stock. The developing
of young stock is one of the most
important phases of poultry raising.
In order to develop into strong, Wig
orous, healthy layers and breeding
stock, they must be kept growing
continually. Young stock after be-
ing retarded because OF improper
feeding, poor range or improper
housing will seldom do we'll.
Young stock should be kept in
clean, dry, well ventilated, roomy
houses. The most popular system
Of housing is the colony system,
which consists of houses being scat
tered throughout an orchard or
grain field. The size of house will
depend upon the number to be
grown. Under ordinary conditions,
100 is the extreme size to start
with. BY culling males and the
poorer grade, this number will be
reduced to about 40 in short time.
House should be portable in order
that it may be moved from place to
place as desired. The larger the
flock, the more danger of disease
and crowding in corners. Corners
must be wired, as under broodlng.
Place perches near ground and grad
ually raise until about four feet
from the floor. Do not allow the
birds to start roosting in trees. Once
the habit is started, it will be i'm
possible to stop. Crowding in houses
at night is very detrimental to young
stock.
AS soon as sex can be determined,
separate the males to fatten and sell,
or consume all but the best. In case
a large flock is being kept and
large number of males is desired for
breeding purposes or for sale, keep
cockerels in a separate yard, as both
pullets and cockerels will do better.
Gull cockerels, and pullets should
be fattened as soon as possible, be-
cause the first two pounds Of weight
is the cheapest.
Free range is quite essential in
raising healthy, strong, matured
stock. Because Of the hot summer
days in Georgia, it is very essential
that birds be out at daylight, as
late as possible at night. Birds
range at this time and seek shade
during the middle of the day. In
case plenty of natural shade is not
available, houses may be raised from
/ to 2 feet off the ground. Any
method of shading the direct sun
from the birds will prove we'll worth
while. Sunflowers, corn or any
quick-growing crop will furnish eX-
cellent shade.
If free range is not available, more
care will be necessary. With large
number Of birds on confined areas,
the soil soon becomes sour and con-
taminated by disease. To sweeten
and prevent disease, soil should be
we'll lined occasionally and some
quick growing crop such as oats,
rye, wheat or rape soWn. Yard may
be divided and half planted at a
time. A good method is to have
two runs, one in front and the
other behind. Green food may be
grown on one while the birds are
on the other. Where but one yard
is available and that too small to
divide, keep the birds confined TWO
or three times a year in the mouse
to allow green crops to grow IN
the yard. The floor of the house
should be well covered with some
good scratching litter.
Care must be exerted to keep
young stock free from lice or scaly-
legs. If lice are found on birds,
treat with mercuric ointment or lice
powder. If mites are found in the
house, spray thoroughly with coal
oil twice, with about five to eight
days between spraying. Would add
some good disinfectant to oil.
Whitewash will help to make the
house lighter and more sanitary.
Young stock should be fed all they
will eat. The breeder who can
make a chicken eat the most will
be most successful. The grain ration
should be fed early in the morning
and late in the afternoon. Corn
preferably cracked), wheat and oats
are the three most important grains.
Either corn or wheat may be fed
alone, but when possible mix. Wheat
is the best single feed, but very eX-
pensivc at this time. Feed sparing-
ly in the morning, and supply all
they will eat at night.
A ground grain ration should be
'supplanted by the scratch grain.
Wheat bran, shorts, middlings, corn
meal, ground oats, alfalfa meal,
meat scrap. Several of these should