CHAPTER V. 

 CARE OF YOUNG CHICKS WITH HENS. 



Keep all chicks out of the wet grass in the early morning. 

 It is not the wet feet, but the wet feathers that do the harm. 



Tim's Wife. 



When the chicks begin to break the 

 shell, the importance of a mother-hen with 

 a quiet and gentle disposition becomes 

 apparent. The advice commonly given to 

 let the hen alone until the chicks are all 

 iut, is sound especially in cases where hens are so wild 

 ,nd pugnacious that handling them will endanger the 

 ^oung, or the attendant is ignorant of the proper thing 

 o do. 



It sometimes is good policy to take from the nest 

 he chicks that come out first. This leaves more room 

 or those that are to hatch, and when out of the nest 

 hey cannot be trampled on. But, as a rule, the clean- 

 st and best results come where the hen and the young 

 ire not disturbed until after the hatch is done. When 

 everal hens are hatching at the same date, it will often 

 e found prudent to transfer all the chicks and eggs 

 rom an unruly hen to those that exhibit more hen- 

 ense. 



All empty shells should be removed from the nest 

 t once, x Occasionally a chick is unable to get out 

 fter it has chipped the shell. The experienced hand 

 an frequently give aid by carefully breaking the shell 



