50 HATCHED FIRST FOOD. 



of the belly at the same time when the rest was; 

 but it is no less probable that all this is the conse- 

 quence of the efforts the chicken had made towards 

 being hatched, and that they had brought on him a 

 rupture, which is commonly fatal in a few days." 



The chickens FIRST HATCHED are to be taken from 

 the hen, lest she be tempted to leave her task un- 

 finished. Those removed may be secured in a 

 basket of wool or soft hay, and kept in a moderate 

 heat; if the weather be cold, near the fire. They 

 will require no food for many hours, even four and 

 twenty, should it be necessary to keep them so long 

 from the hen. The whole brood being hatched, the 

 hen is to be placed under a coop abroad, upon a dry 

 spot, and, if possible, not within the reach of ano- 

 ther hen, since the chickens will mix, and the hens 

 are apt to maim or destroy those which do not be- 

 long to them. Nor should they be placed near 

 numbers of young fowls, which are likely to crush 

 young chicks under their feet, being always eager 

 for the chickens' meat. 



The FIRST FOOD, split grits, afterwards tail wheat ; 

 all watery food, soaked bread or potatoes, improper. 

 Eggs boiled hard, or curd chopped small, much ap- 

 proved as first food. Their water should be pure and 

 often renewed, and there are convenient pans made 

 in such forms, that the chickens may drink with- 

 out getting into the water, which often, by wetting 

 their feet and feathers, benumbs and injures them ; 

 a basin whelmed in the middle of a pan of water, 

 will answer the end, the water running round it. 

 Generally, and dependent on situation, and the dis- 



