464 



THE ANIMALS OF THE EARTH 



FIG. 332. A crop destroyed by mice. 



their place in the kitchen can- 

 not be taken by any other 

 product (Fig. 333). 



Chickens, unlike mammals, 

 do not bear young alive, but 

 lay eggs from which chicks 

 may hatch. In order that 

 the chicks may hatch, the 

 eggs must be kept warm by 

 the hen for 21 days. Man 

 has learned that the sitting 

 hen does nothing more than 

 keep the eggs warm enough 

 to develop the embryo chick. 

 He therefore gathers freshly 

 laid eggs and places them in 

 incubators or heated boxes, 

 where they hatch into 

 chicks. In this way the 

 young chicks are under his 

 eye and can be fed and cared 



for. What are some of the dangers to which young chicks are 

 exposed when left to shift for themselves ? Chicken meat is 

 delicate and is easily digested and is a valuable change in diet 

 for those who can afford it. 



Turkeys, ducks, and geese 

 (Fig. 334) are raised on some 

 farms, the first two for food, ; 

 the latter for both food and 

 feathers. The turkey is an 

 American bird and is little 

 known outside of this country. 

 The barnyard turkey is the FIG. 333. A good kind of poultry 



