72 THE BEARING AND 



Turkeys and Guinea Fowls exhibit this sudden expansion even 

 more strikingly than those of Cocks and Hens. 



But what are we to do with the new-come chickens ? Let 

 us leave them quiet with their mother six or eight hours, or 

 till the next morning. Now is the time to listen to quackeries, 

 and fooleries, and heaps of babble and rubbish, if we do not 

 choose the better part of being as deaf as stones. How won- 

 derful must be the productive energy which is at work in the 

 universe, to replace the myriads of chickens and children that 

 have been laid low by sage nursing ! Whole pepper-corns, 

 gin, laudanum, tight-swaddling, cramming, dips into cold 

 water, suffocation with foul air, make us wonder that either 

 biped, plumed or unplumed, is to be found in any other than 

 a, fossil state. 



A roomy, boarded coop, in a dry sunny spot, is the best 

 position for them during the first month ; after which it may 

 be left open during the day for the Hen to retire to when she 

 pleases. In quiet grassy places, such as one sees on the skirts 

 of green commons and by the sides of country churchyards, 

 the Hen need scarcely be cooped at all. As to food, let them have 

 every thing which is not absolutely poisonous.* Sloppy matters 

 are better avoided till the little things are old enough to eat a 

 few grains of good barley, which they are before it is usually 

 suspected ; afterwards they do no harm. A little wheat, of 

 the best sample, will then not be thrown away upon them. 

 Meat and insect diet are almost necessary \ but raw vegetables 

 chopped small, so grateful to young Turkeys, are caviare to 

 chickens. But whatever be the bill of fare, the meals must 



* If wet food be given, the chick is obliged to take water, whether 

 it require it or not, in order to get a sufficient supply of solid food, 

 and diseased bowels will be likely to follow ; whereas, if the food be 

 dry, they can supply themselves with food and water according to 

 their pleasure. ED. 



