48 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



for the frightened little giddy-heads straying about 

 under their very spurs ! No, no, that is not the place 

 for them. 



"What they require is a place set apart, isolated 

 from the rough grown-up poultry, heated to a mild 

 temperature, and carpeted with fine straw. If this 

 place is wanting, recourse is had to a coop, a sort of 

 large cage, under which the mother is placed with 

 some food. Sometimes the bars of this refuge are 

 far enough apart to permit the young chickens to 

 come in and go out at will, so as to enjoy their play; 

 sometimes they are too close together for this, and 

 then the coop is lifted a little at one side when it is 

 desired to give liberty to the captives. But the 

 mother always stays in the cage, whence she watches 

 over the young chickens, calling them to her at the 

 least appearance of danger. If the weather is fine, 

 the coop is placed out of doors in an exposed spot, 

 with a sheltering canopy of canvas, foliage, or straw, 

 when the sun is too hot." 



"There the young chickens are safe," said Emile, 

 ' ' out of danger of any accident amongst the boister- 

 ous population of the poultry-yard. If some danger 

 arises, the hen gives her warning call, and those that 

 are outside immediately scamper through the narrow 

 passage and take refuge with their mother. Now 

 about their food." 



"Food is not forgotten: under the coop is a plate 

 containing water, and another with pap. For very 

 young chickens it is not yet time for strong food, 

 hard grain which requires a vigorous stomach to di- 



