THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 165 



cate, stages of incubation are superintended with greatest care, and that the 

 eggs are more freely exposed to the atmosphere as the incubation approaches 

 completion. It is to be regretted that the exact temperature of the rooms is 

 not given, the sensation of warmth being quite fallacious as a test of temper- 

 ature. 



REARING CHICKENS BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS. 



ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS. 



WHERE poultry breeding is carried on to a large extent, and where it is 

 intended to rear the greatest number of chickens with the least number of 

 hens, or with an incubator, artificial mothers are of the utmost importance. 

 Chickens can be just as well reared, and, some writers aver, even better by ar- 

 tificial than by the natural method. The only use of the hen is to prevent the 

 natural heat of the chick's body from cooling to break up the food, and pro- 

 tect them from danger. In fact, chickens do not really require an artificial 

 hen. They only require a suitable covering for their bodies until full-fledged, 

 to preserve the natural heat, so as to keep their bodies warm, the same as 

 full-grown fowls. 



TO GET EARLY CHICKENS. 



The artificial mother is very convenient to persons raising poultry, either 

 on a large or small scale, to get early chickens in January or February, when 

 the weather will not permit them to run out, and to have fine, large fowls for 

 exhibition in the fall months. For large poultry dealers a good, light house 

 is required, with good ventilation, without a draught ; a dry and well graveled 

 floor ; sunlight, and a small run, with a little fire, in very cold, damp, chilly 

 and rainy days, to keep the atmosphere dry, is all that is needed to raise as 

 fine chickens as may be desired. The artificial mother, however, is a great 

 economizer of time and labor saves the necessity of any coops, w r hich would 

 otherwise be needed. It protects the little chicks from the changeableness 

 of the weather, and from the vermin that infests, more or less, all poultry 

 yards. By this mode the chickens are also completely under control, and 

 where they can be given all sorts of nourishing drinks and food, without fear 

 or trouble of the mother hen. 



ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS MAY BE USED WITHOUT THE INCUBATOR. 



Hens, especially those of the large or Asiatic breeds, are apt, when in con- 

 finement, to kill their chickens by treading upon them, or in scratching, and 

 occasionally some mothers pick their young to death or prevent them from 

 coming near her to pick up food. In the use of the artificial mother this can 



