CARE OF THE YOUNG CHICKS 323 



free range, if desired, but should confine the hen. It should pro- 

 vide ample shelter for both hen and chicks during wet weather. 

 In the construction of such coops, 1x2 inch strips and plaster 

 laths make an excellent yard for the hen and chicks to exercise in, 

 and shelter and sleeping coop can be built at one end. The brooder 

 coop should be located in a spot sheltered from the wind, where 

 there is plenty of green grass and some protection from enemies. 

 The floor should be elevated, and covered to quite a depth with 

 sand, to keep it dry and to facilitate cleaning. The hen and chicks 

 should be transferred to the brooder coop about sixty hours after 

 the hatch, or when the chicks have dried off and are ready to leave 

 the nest in search of feed. In making the transfer it is best to 

 carry the hen under the arm and the chicks in a basket or other 

 handy receptacle, the chicks being put in the coop first, and the 

 hen gently placed in after them. By this procedure there is less 

 danger of the hen trampling on her chicks. 



Care of the Young Chicks. — The chicks should be kept close 

 to the hen for a few days, until they get accustomed to the coop 

 and know where to run for protection. It should also be made 

 certain that they are securelj^ fastened in the coop with the hen 

 at night, also that they are under shelter in the coop in spells of 

 rainy weather during the first few weeks after hatching. 



Feeding the Young Chicks. — When chicks are hatched under 

 hens, the feed should be easily seen, easily digested, and fed spar- 

 ingly. Crowding the digestive system of young chicks is always 

 a dangerous, undesirable, and unprofitable practice. Dry, crushed, 

 hard grain is the best and safest material. In artificial brooding 

 this question of feeding must be considered, but it is of no practical 

 importance in natural brooding, because the hen will see to the 

 feeding. As soon as they have been put in the brooder coop, give 

 the hen a good feed of whole corn and place water where she and 

 the chicks can drink it, then throw a little rolled oats on the sand. 

 This is probably the best feed for young chicks, because, owing to 

 its light color, it attracts their attention and they can see to eat it. 

 Bread crumbs soaked in milk make an excellent first feed for 

 naturally hatched chicks, as do hard-boiled eggs, to which use 

 infertile eggs can be put. The general practice, however, and it 

 is a good one, is to start the chicks on fine cracked corn or wheat. 

 For the first few days only a limited amount of the grain should 

 be given, but after they have learned to eat they should be fed 

 two or three times a day with good feed which they can clean up 



