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away from the earth for several days, until the chickens 

 gain strength enough to keep from under her feet when 

 she moves or scratches. They should be provided with 

 fresh water in pans so arranged that they shall not get 

 wet ; nor should they he exposed to the rain • nor per- 

 mitted to wander in wet grass, for it must be remember- 

 ed that nearly all the diseases of gallinaceous fowds arise 

 from cold and moisture. 



The first food of the chicks may be bits of soft bread, 

 Indian meal and oatmeal mixed, hard boiled egg chop- 

 ped fine, soft boiled potatoes, and by-ancl-by cracked 

 corn. Too much watery food should be avoided. Some 

 poulterers think that Indian meal dough is too cold and 

 indigestible for young chicks. 



When the hen goes to roost and weans her brood, they 

 will generally go with her. If they do not, they should 

 be put with chickens of their own size until they are old 

 enough to roost. But it may be noticed that when large 

 and small chickens are mixed the former are apt to crow^l 

 the latter away from their food and otherwise to abuse 

 them. 



Diseases. — The diseases of fowls are obscure in their 

 character, and very little that is satisfactory can be said 

 upon this point. It is much easier to prevent disease in 

 fowls than to cure it. Most of their troubles seem to 

 originate in damp and cold exposures and improper diet. 

 Therefore to keep fowls in health they should be provid- 

 ed v\dtli clean and well ventilated houses, free from cold, 

 damp drafts ; they should be regularly fed with a variety 

 of things, and should be constantly supplied with water 

 and gravel. But in spite of all care they will sometimes 

 mope, sicken, and die. When a fowl shows signs of sick- 

 ness it should be immediately set apart by itself, to avoid 



