i 



THE POVLT-RT TABD. SOS 



foolish to fuss the old bird and make her angry, as she may tread on the 

 eggs in her fnry, and crush the chick? when they are in the most delicate 

 stage of hatching. 



Picking off the shell to help the imprisraied chick is always a more or le« 

 hazardous proceeding, and should never be had recourse to unless the egg 

 has been what is termed " billed *' for a long time, in which case the chick is 

 probablv a weakly one and may need a Uttle help, which must be given with 

 the greatest caution, in order that the tender membranes of the skin shall not 

 be lacerated. A Httle help should be given at a time, every two or three 

 loure; but if any blood is perceived stop at once, as it ia a proof that the 

 jhick is not quite ready to be hl)erated. If, on the contrary, the minuf; 

 blood vessels which are spread all over the interior of the shell are blood- 

 less, then you may be sure the chick is in some way stuck to the shell by its 

 iieathers, or is too weakly to get out of its prisoo-house. 



The old egg shells shotild be removed from under the hen, but do not 

 take away her chicks from her one by one as they hatch out, as is very often 

 advised, for it only makes her very uneasy, and the nataral warmth of her 

 !• 'y is far better for them at that early stage than artiiicial heat Should 

 ' a few chicks have been hatched out of the sitting, and the other re- 

 ;:. -ir^cr '-.r:'^ show no signs of life when examined, no sounds of the little 

 1 - - a the water test should be tried. Get a basin of warm water, 



ij It : ' -. V .. -.ad put those ^gs abont which you do not feel certain mto 

 it. K tiiey contain chicks they will float on the top, if they move or dance 

 the chicks" are alive, but if they float without movement the inmates will 

 most likely be dead. If they (the eggs) are rotten they will sink to the bot- 

 iiom. Put the floating ones back under the hen, and if, on carefally break- 

 ing t' ' • ' . jpgj jg correct (one ptincture will be sofiicieDt to 

 tell ■ : once. 



- c^ .. . . •'•■' <■'■•*' from their shells in a hurry, because it 



i- , ,- j-y for their .<-y should have taken in all the yelk, 



1' ;• •:; : 'orreB them ; - y-four hours after they see the light, 



so no apprehension need be felt if tliey do not eat during that period, if they 

 seem quite strong, gain their feet, and their Uttle fiowny pliunage spreads 

 out and dries properly. Their beet place is under the hen for the time 

 named. 



When all are hatched, cleanse the nest completely, and well dredge the 

 hen's body with sulphur powder; give her the chicks, and place chopped 

 ^..„, „„ 1 i.read-crumbs witlun reach. The less they are disturbed during 

 ^ or three days th« better. Warmth is easeutial, and a constantly 

 :.eu is a better mother than one which fosses the infant chicks 

 about and keeps calling them to feed. Pe^^e hen i^ a coop and let the 

 chicks have fr«e egress. The best place W stand tn^oopa is under shel- 

 tered runs, guarded from cold winds, the ground dry, and deep in sand and 

 mortar siftings. Further warmth is unnecessary if the mothers are good; 

 and if the roof is of glass, so as to secure every ray of sun, so much the 

 better. Cleanliness of coops, beds, flooring, water vessels and flood tins 

 must be absolute. The oftener the chicks are fed the better, but food must 

 never be left: water must be made safe, or death from drowning and chills 

 mayb« expeottd. The moment weather permits, free range on grass for 

 several hours daily is desirable, but shelter should always be at hand. 



Pscltini; Poultry for Slarlcet. — All poultry should be thoroughly 

 eooled and dried before packing, preparatory for shipment to market For 



