BROODING THE CHICKS 77 
not climb into it and get wet. Chick fountains 
may be purchased cheaply, but are easily made at 
home by the combination of a tin can and a flower 
pot saucer. One end of the can should be removed 
and one side at that end pushed or hammered in. 
Then the can may be. filled with water, the saucer 
placed over it and the can quickly inverted. The 
saucer will be found partly filled with water and 
more will run out as that is consumed. The same 
result is secured by making a hole in the side of the 
can just below the edge of the saucer, the latter be- 
ing large enough so that the chicks can drink around 
the sides of the saucer. Many people adopt the 
simple expedient of filling a small dish with water 
and putting a half brick or a stone in the middle, 
so that the chickens cannot get into the water. 
Chick grit should be kept in the coop and it is also 
well to have a little charcoal where it is always ac- 
cessible. Nothing has been said about wet mashes 
for chicks. All that need be said now is that they 
are not to be recommended, especially for the 
amateur, who wants the nearest approach to a safe 
and sure method of raising his chicks. Yes, it is 
true that our grandmothers fed sloppy mashes and 
raised a fair percentage of their chicks. It is a 
