133 AX EGG FARM. 



that the young of all birds shall mature and become 

 fledged with wonderful rapidity, in order that the period 

 of their helplessness, when they are likely to be preyed 

 upon by their numerous enemies, shall be short. The 

 formation of the coat of feathers, which succeeds the 

 downy covering with which they emerge from the shell, 

 demands a quick and certain supply of nutritive mate- 

 rials, and, in the case of domesticated species, the young 

 are obliged at the same time to nourish the growth of 

 bodies which, owing to the artificial treatment man has 

 subjected their parents to for many generations, tend to 

 an abnormal size. The fledging period is a critical one, 

 and the feeding, from the time of incubation until the 

 wing and tail feathers are fairly developed, should all be 

 contrived with a view to assist the digestive organs in 

 changing just as much easily assimilated material as pos- 

 sible into an abundance of good, rich blood. It will 

 not do to wait until the time of the most rapid feather- 

 ing, and then begin to allow a generous diet, but the 

 systems of the young chicks must be prepared in advance, 

 by being stored with nutriment in every cell and tissue. 

 For the first few days after incubation, feed the yolks 

 of eggs slightly cooked by being dropped in hot water, 

 not spoiled by being hard boiled. Mix these with an 

 equal quantity of the crumbs of corn cake, made by bak- 

 ing a dough of Indian meal and milk. The clear eggs, 

 that were put under sitters and tested out, will give you a 

 supply of yolks for this purpose. As soon as the chicks 

 are five or six days old, begin gradually to substitute boiled 

 plucks and livers, run through a meat cutter, in place 

 of the egg yolks, and the Indian meal may be cooked as 

 a thick mush, and to stimulate appetite by variety, add 

 sometimes wheat bran and ground oats. Also, cracked 

 corn and wheat screenings, raw, may be introduced. All 

 they will eat of tender grass, chopped fine, and boiled 

 potatoes, nicely mashed, should be given. The grass 



