FARM ANIMALS 403 



all know equally well how to raise a brood of chicks. In 

 the United States the Wyandotte and Plymouth Rock breeds 

 are in high favor for the production of both eggs and meat, 

 and they make good mother hens. 



As hatching and raising a brood keeps a hen busy for six 

 or seven weeks, artificial incubators and brooders are now 

 used by all large poultrymen for hatching, and warmed 

 "artificial mothers" for raising the chicks. When these are 

 skilfully used and cared for, good healthy chickens are reared, 

 and the hens can keep busy laying eggs in the meantime. In 

 China this artificial hatching, in brick or mud ovens with 

 shelves on the sides to hold the eggs, has been done from 

 remote times. 



Besides the useful breeds, we have among chickens the 

 pretty, small bantam, as among horses we have the small 

 Shetland pony. They are quick and lively and very intelli- 

 gent, but serve only for ornament. 



Poultry raising has become a very important industry in 

 California, especially along the coast, where the even, mild 

 climate is very favorable. But everywhere chickens should 

 be divided up into small flocks or colonies of not over 

 twenty-five or thirty, and given sufficient room for exercise 

 and scratching. When many are kept together in small 

 pens or houses, diseases are sure to come. To prevent these 

 it is of first necessity to provide the poultry with clean 

 water, and in feeding prevent their food from being mixed 

 with their droppings. Also, give them a chance to dust to 

 keep off mites, and to get some gravel to help grind their 

 food, and lime to help make eggshells. 



Turkeys. Despite their name, turkeys are natives 

 of North America, where the wild bird can still be 

 hunted in the woods. 



