First Treatmea^t op the Brood. 



69 



stock but of her reach, and only to feed the hen at stated times, else the choice morsels will tempt 

 her to eat too much, and lead to that fattening which is always to be avoided by the poultry- 

 keeper. 



We need scarcely say that the practice formerly so common of removing by the thumb-nail 

 the sharp and horny scale which is found on every newly-hatched chicken's beak, and by means of 

 which it breaks the shell, is simply the barbarity of ignorance. Except in very rare cases of 

 excessive debility, to open their beaks, and put either pepper-corns or food down their throats, is 

 little better. If anything " comes naturally " to animals of every kind, it is the faculty of eating; 

 and to attempt to " teach " this to creatures in ordinary health and spirits is somewhat akin to the 

 instruction of an elderly relative in the art of oval suction. Chickens generally eat very little, and 

 often drink nothing at all during the first day ; and provided they be only fairly strong upon their 

 legs, and look tolerably lively, they both may and should be left to their own natural instincts 

 alone. Only in case of valuable chickens showing great debility may they be put apart to be 

 tempted by special delicacies, or a little raw egg beaten up with brandy be administered through a 

 small glass tube. For all weakly chickens, raw egg beaten up alone or with milk, or mixed with 

 their food instead of milk, is the most strengthening thing that can be given. A little underdone 

 meat chopped fine is greatly enjoyed by all chickens, and is of very great benefit to them. 



We formerly used to give the first meal on the nest, but now prefer to put the hen out with her 

 brood, when the family can be fed with cleanliness and comfort. Something however will depend 

 upon circumstances, and if the weather be very wet or cold, and the hen cleanly in her habits, it 



Vf'i"'i'li!mvi"nni 



Fig. 41. 



may be well, by regular feeding and shutting her in between, to keep her on her nest for one day till 

 the chickens are better able to bear the cold. But as a rule the whole should be at once moved 

 out ; and where there is convenience for it, there is no better arrangement than that given by M. 

 Jacque, and represented by Fig. 41, of a box-coop under any kind of shed, however rough, that can 

 be most readily constructed or made available. The coop as figured by M. Jacque consists 

 of two compartments, separated by a partition of bars ; one compartment being closed in 

 front, the other barred like the partition, and each set of bars having one loose or sliding one 

 to serve as a door. Each half of this coop should be about two and a half feet square, and may 



