Rural School Leaflet 



^37 



5. How does the newly-hatched chick differ in appearance from the 

 young robin? Which is the stronger and more active? Where and how 

 does the young chick get its food? Where and how does the young robin 

 get its food? Where does the chick sleep at night? 



6. What noise does the chick make when following the mother hen? 

 When lost? When frightened? When cuddling under the mother's wing? 



7. What noises does the hen make when with her brood? When she 

 finds food for them? When she sees a hawk? How do the chickens 

 obey their mother's call? 



8. How does a hen drink? Why? Does a pigeon drink in this way? 

 Do other birds ? 



9. Note how a hen expresses suspicion, fright, terror, and happiness. 

 ID. How do hens fight? How and with what weapons do roosters 



fight? 



11. What is the chief note of the rooster? When does he crow and 

 why? Note other sounds made by a rooster. 



12. Describe how a hen dusts and suns herself. Why does she do this? 



The Hen. — " It is good to see Minott's hens pecking and scratching the ground. What 

 never-failing health they suggest! Even the sick hen is so naturally sick — like a green 

 leaf turning to brown. No wonder men love to have hens about them and hear their creaking 

 note. They are even laying eggs from time to time still — the undespairing race." 



THOREAU, JOURNAL 



" Even the hen has a homely contented carol ; and I credit the owl with a desire to fill the 

 night with music. All birds are incipient or would-be songsters in the spring. I find 

 corroborative evidence of this even in the crowing of the cock." 



JOHN BURROUGHS 



Feeding the chickens 



