78 THE HOME, POULTRY BOOK 
mystery, though, how they did it. And anyway, 
what is the use of going to the time and trouble of 
mixing a mash when a little dry feed can be scat- 
tered in the litter in a quarter of the time? 
It is usually considered wise to keep the hen con- 
fined to the coop while the chicks are allowed to run 
at large, but the youngsters should not be allowed 
their freedom until the dew has disappeared from 
the grass, if they have a grass run. And the hen — 
patient old mother—should not be forgotten. 
Plenty of whole or cracked corn and some oats may 
be given her, at first in a tall dish that the chicks 
cannot get into, and she should have water always 
at hand. Likewise, she should be dusted at least 
once a week with a lice powder, well worked into 
the feathers, so that the chicks will get some bene- 
fit from it. 
Chicks with a hen are certain to suffer from the 
plague of lice. If neglected, they may die from the 
inroads upon their vitality made by these pests. 
When chicks stand around moping, it is time to get 
out the dusting box. The chicks ought never to 
reach this stage, though, for an application of pow- 
der made at night when the hen has been lifted off, 
should be a weekly practice, beginning the first day. 
