74 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



may perhaps lead her to seek out her former range if it 

 is not too distant. If she is inclined to wander too far 

 or to travel too rapidly for the strength of her little 

 ones, she should be somewhat restrained or watched. 



The Freedom of the Place: It is fortunate if the 

 mother hen and her flock can be allowed to roam at will 

 about the place or within a large enclosure free from 

 serious danger of enemies and where there is grass land 

 as well as tillage. It is only necessary then, to provide 

 a simple shelter, where the hen may safely hover her^ 

 brood at night or when the weather is unfavorable. 



The mother hen should not be permitted to lead her 

 chicks, while very young, into tall grass or growing 

 grain wet with heavy dews or rain. The hen and chicks 

 will obtain considerable food in the natural way by 

 ranging and scratching for it. Seeds, grains, insects, 

 worms, grubs and green grass obtained in small amounts 

 at frequent intervals with the accompanying large 

 amount of bodily exercise, conduce to healthy natural 

 growth. 



If necessary the supply of food may be supplemented 

 especially towards sundown, so that the chicks shall 

 close the day's foraging with full crops. Fresh drinking 

 water should always be at hand, easily obtainable. 



THE CHICK COOP. 



Shelters for hens with chicks are simple affairs. 

 Many broods have had for their homes common barrels 

 or boxes. An empty barrel laid upon its side with one 

 end open, the other end closed and Braised several inches 

 above the ground to prevent water from rains standing 

 in it, has often been made to answer the purpose. 



If there be danger of rats or other animals disturb- 

 ing the hen or stealing the chicks at night the open end 

 of the barrel may be protected by a frame covered with 

 one-inch mesh wire netting. 



Another plan is to make two coops of a barrel that 

 has a good head and bottom by cutting the barrel into 

 halves. After sawing it across at the middle, each half 



