CAGE OR COOP ARTIFICIAL MOTHER. 49 



the hen, and which is absolutely necessary to their 

 comfort and even their existence. A curtain of 

 flannel was suspended over the opening of the box. 



A WICKER CAGE or COOP, surrounding the above 

 box and artificial mother, which will entirely confine 

 the chickens to its circumference, is a great conve- 

 nience in bad weather, or for the purpose of separa- 

 tion ; indeed, a coop of that kind for a hen and brood 

 is always useful. One discovery we made in the at- 

 tempt at artificial hatching, namely, that young 

 chicks are injured by being placed upon a BOARDED 

 FLOOR ; it is too cold and chilling for them, the feet 

 and legs appearing swollen, as if from chilblains. 

 Dry earth is their proper floor. 



Mr. Young recommends the following plan of 

 an artificial mother, and the experimenter may make 

 his election between the two, or improve on them 

 both at his discretion. 



" Five broods may at once be cherished under an 

 artificial mother. This mother may be framed of a 

 board, ten inches broad, and fifteen inches long, 

 resting on two legs in front, two inches in height, 

 and on two props behind, two inches also in height. 

 The board must be perforated with many small 

 gimblet holes, for the escape of the heated air, and 

 lined with lamb's skin dressed with the wool on, and 

 the woolly side is to come in contact with the 

 chickens. 



" Over three of these mothers a wicker-basket is 

 to be placed, for the protection of the chickens, four 

 feet long, two feet broad, and fourteen inches high, 

 with a lid open, a wooden sliding bottom to draw 



