Rural School Leaflet. 1107 



The hen and the chicks. — Make sure that the hen and chicks 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. 



The food. — When the chick is first hatched, a part of the egg yolk is 

 still in its body and may be used for food the same as before the chick 

 came from the shell. Bread crumbs moistened with enough sweet 

 milk or lukewarm water to make the food crumbly but not wet, may 

 be given 36 hours after hatching. The hen will like some whole grain 

 in addition to this food, also fine grit or sand. She may give the chicks 

 a little of the grit. After the first few days, some hard-boiled egg may 

 be added to the food Tor the chicks, in about the proportion of one part 

 of the egg to eight or nine of the bread. Cottage cheese may also be 

 given in addition to the other foods. See that the food is always sweet 

 and clean, never moldy or soured. 



The feeding. — Care should be taken to keep the hen well supplied 

 with food, in addition to that given to the chicks. Place the moist food 

 before the chicks on a shallow dish or a piece of board. While they 

 are very young it seems better to feed them four or five times a day. 

 The first two or three days they will probably eat very little grain; 

 after that time they may be given two or three meals of the soft food, 

 and the remaining meals of finely cracked grains, alternating the kinds 

 of food. For the grain food, three parts (by weight) of corn, four of 

 wheat, and one of hulled oats, all finely cracked, make a good mixture. 

 Always remove the food as soon as the chicks have had enough, which 

 will probably be in ten or fifteen minutes. As chicks grow older, the pro- 

 portion of cracked grain may be increased, and the grain may be of 

 larger size. When they are four weeks old, three or four meals a day 

 are usually considered sufficient. 



Give plenty of fresh, clean water in a vessel which will not admit 

 of the chicks jumping into the water. A -water fountain is commonly 

 used for this purpose. 



Care of the hen and chicks. — It is better to keep the hen in the coop 

 for a few days until she will be likely to return to it, but let the chicks 

 run, if the weather is fine. They will not go far without the hen. In 

 case the winds are cold, a little yard covered on the sides with coarse 

 muslin instead of chicken wire will protect the chicks. As soon as the 

 chicks can run well, the hen may be allowed her freedom in fine weather, 

 always being fed near the coop. In rainy weather, it seems best to 

 keep the hen and chicks out of the wet. 



