'1 KEAIMLXr 01' Li. ' CjJJCAIWS. 



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about two feet from the ground, aiui to ;i!lo\v tliciii . n to her. For several niL,'hts she will 



partially brood them on her perch, allowing one or two between her legs, and spreading 



her wings over the others. After a few da}'s of this partia. however, she will begin to beat 



them off; when she must be altogether removed, and the ^ '^e will be found of having 



accustomed the little ones to the perch, where they will be warm a Large breeds, however, 



should not be allowed to roost, unless they are wlien forsaken near._ ■ months old ; and not 



even then except they have abundant range of grass to give tone to the •^, and thus prevent 



crooked breasts. Otherwise, the hen should be taken away at once, and u kens left to sleep 



in either their accustomed coop, or any box turned on its side, and well flc ith dry ashes, 



sand, or sifted earth, cleansed daily. The wood floor is much the best, if tveii. d with the 



earth, as it keeps them dry and warm underneath. In such a box the chicks will a. ' up into 



one, corner to keep warm, and will usually get on very well ; but if they are very > ^r the 



weather is severe, the artificial mother presently described must be brought into requ. If 



n3t previously accustomed to it, the chicks are easily taught its use by putting them una^ 

 the dark several nights in succession, always keeping the mother in the same spot, and scattv. 

 some food close to it for the morning. Chickens when abandoned by the hen do best if "-hey Ci. 

 have a pretty good shed to themselves, floored with loose earth and fronted with open \'vl. ". 

 A sleeping-box or mother can be put in each back corner, thus accommodating two broods ; and 

 they should be shut in at night, with some food for their breakfast, so that they cannot get out 

 on the grass till the proper time. 



As the chickens grow up they will probably have to be moved away from their first domicile, 

 in order to make room for others fresh hatched. However this may be, at ten to twelve weeks 

 old the cockerels must be separated from the pullets, and only chickens of about the same age 

 be placed in a run together, else the weaker will stand no chance. Without separating the sexes 

 the birds will never grow so large, besides which it prevents trouble, as a number of cockerels may 

 be kept by themselves in perfect peace till full-grown. The chief things to guard against, however, 

 will be any oversight in cleanliness, and any neglect of the 'older cldckens for the sake of the young 

 ones. Many a mistake is made here. The birds are growing fast now, and they must be fed 

 liberally and well, or all the pains bestowed on them will be lost ; whether their destination be the 

 exhibition or the fatting-pen, this remark equally applies. Their four good meals must be regularly 

 given — just enough to satisfy them and none left — mixed nice and dry, as we laid so much stress 

 upon, and thrown about the grass-run if that be at command, or put in clean vessels if not ; their 

 w'ater kept clean and frequently changed ; and some animal food occasionally given to all except 

 pullets which it is not desired should lay early ; their sleeping-places kept sweet, and dry, and 

 sheltered. Chickens thus cared for will thrive and be a credit, whatever the purpose for w-hich they 

 are reared. Milk may be still mixed with their food and given to drink, even up to six months 

 (jld, if the range is good ; but for birds in confinement it should Ife discontinued after about 

 three months, being in such circumstances too much for the more sluggish digestive organs. 



In the preceding remarks we have throughout taken it for granted that the young broods 

 will be accommodated and reared apart from the stock of adult fowls. It is much to be 

 desired that affairs should be thus arranged, and if otherwise it is impossible to avoid some 

 waste both in time and money ; but we have known chickens fed in a large \-ard amongst 

 other fowls, and do better than might have been expected, by the use of a feeding-coop, 

 This is made of netting stretched upon any light frame, so as to include about six feet square 

 of ground, and about eighteen inches high. It can be divided if desired into several compart- 

 ments ; and by having doors to each, of various sizes, the larger fowls or chickens \\\\\ be unable 



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