To Prevent Crooked Breast Bones. — If allowed to
roost at an early age, crooked breast bones will result. To
prevent this, perches should not for a time be provided, and
the chickens will be content to pass the night on a bed of
dry material. My young birds roost in the coops until they
are three, and even four months old, at which age they may
be placed with the older fowls.
54 MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY FOR PROFIT.
To Construct a Chicken Feeder. — When possible,
chickens should possess a separate run, away from the
parent birds, but when this cannot be given them, a
chicken feeder should be made. It consists merely of four
boards, six feet long, and nine inches wide, nailed together
at the ends. This will enclose 36 square feet. Over this
frame, wire netting is tacked, and holes are cut in the
boards large enough to admit only the small members of
the fowl community.
Separation of Sexes. — When the cockerels are from
three to four months old, they should be separated from
the pullets ; otherwise the male birds do not grow so large.
A pen of cockerels will agree together until fully grown.
It is well to place together all the chickens of about the
same size. This will give the weaker broods a fairer chance
of thriving.
Quality of Food for Chickens. — It will generally
be found most economical in the end to feed young
chickens upon good substantial food. They will thus be
kept growing, and in good condition, and will be fit at an
earlier age for market, the table, or the show-pen.
