48 SIGNS CAUTIONS WEAKNESS. 



heat of incubation, until it becomes a real glue. When 

 this happens, the feathers stick fast to the shell, and 

 the chick remains confined, and must perish unless 

 released. 



The METHOD of assistance is, to take the egg in 

 hand, and dipping the finger, or a piece of linen, in 

 warm water, apply it to the fastened parts, until they 

 are loosened, by the gluey substance being dissolved 

 and separated from the feathers ; the chick then being 

 returned to the nest, will extricate itself, a mode 

 generally to be observed, since violence used would 

 often be fatal. Nevertheless, breaking the shell may 

 sometimes be necessary, and tearing with the fingers, 

 as gently as may be, the membrane from the feathers, 

 which are still to be moistened as above, to facilitate 

 the operation. Small points of scissors may be useful, 

 and when there is much resistance, and apparent pain 

 to the bird, the process must be conducted in the 

 gentlest manner, and the shell separated into a number 

 of small piece^. The SIGNS of a need of assistance 

 are, the egg being partly pecked, and the efforts of 

 the chicken discontinued for five or six hours. In 

 commencement, the shell may be broken cautiously, 

 by striking it with the end of a key ; the rotten egg 

 is known immediately by the motion of the contained 

 fluid, and previous unsteady incubation. 



WEAKNESS from cold may disable the chicken from 

 commencing the operation of pecking the shell, which 

 must then be artificially performed, with a circular frac- 

 ture, such as is made by the bird itself. Pullets are 

 occasionally liable to cause this defect. We have had 

 but little success in this case, the chickens after delivery 



