ii6o Rural School Leaflet 



Care of hen and chicks. — It is usually best to keep the hen and chickens 

 confined to the coop for the first day or two. After this the chickens 

 may be allowed to run in a small covered yard attached to the coop. 

 This may be made by using three wide boards for the sides with some 

 poultry wire stapled on the top. After a few days, if the weather is 

 good, this yard may be removed and the chickens allowed to run. They 

 will not go far from the hen. As soon as the chickens can run well, the 

 hen may be allowed her freedom, but she should be fed near the coop and 

 shut in it every night. In the early morning when heaw dew is on the 

 grass, it is best to keep the hen in until the grass is nearly dry. In rainy 

 weather the hen and chickens should be kept out of the wet. 



Enemies and disease. — Be sure that the hen and chickens are free from 

 lice. A wise precaution against these pests is to apply a little fresh lard 

 to the hen's body under the wings. An equal quantity of scotch snuff 

 mixed with the lard makes it more effective. A liberal application of 

 two parts kerosene and one part crude carbolic acid to the inside of the 

 coop several days before the hen and chickens are placed in it, will be 

 a wise precaution against red mites. In case of the mysterious disap- 

 pearance of the chickens, look for cats, rats, crows, hawks, weasels, and 

 other thieves. Crows and hawks catch the chickens in the daytime, 

 when they are roaming about. Rats and weasels often get into the coop 

 at night, and may destroy an entire brood in one visit. Cats are often 

 enemies. Your pet cat may be the one to eat your chickens. Watch 

 her until you know she is to be trusted. 



The loss from disease will be greatly decreased if the chickens are always 

 well cared for and well fed and if their coops are kept clean and dr}'. 



X. CARE OF BROODER AND CHICKENS 

 H. P. BUCHAN 



Location. — In locating the brooder select a spot that is dry and pro- 

 tected as much as possible from the cold winds. During warm weather 

 the brooder should be shaded from the hot sun in the middle of the day. 

 It should be set as nearly level as possible; the floor should be covered 

 about one inch deep with dry chaff or cut straw to help keep the chicks 

 warm. 



Temperature. — About the time the chicks begin to hatch in the incu- 

 bator, the lamp or the heater in the brooder may be lighted, and the tem- 

 perature under the hover allowed to rise to ioo° F. A higher temperature 

 is likely to be harmful unless the weather is very cold. Keep the tem- 

 perature as near ioo° F. as possible during the first two weeks. After 

 this it may be lowered about 5° each week, until the chickens no longer 

 require heat, which will be when they are from six to eight weeks old. 



