76 



TlIR Ir.I.USTKATED BoOK Of PoC/.Th'V. 



These mothers are also very useful for early broods. when hatched by Cochin or Brahma 

 pullets, and forsaken before they can bear the cold. In such cases we put one down by the pullet 

 or hen, and scatter a few grits under it to tempt the chicks. Doing this occasionally, by decrees 

 as the hen begins to brood them insufficient!)-, they will resort to the arliiicial parent instead, and 

 by the time the hen entirely casts them off are quite independent of her care. For Spanish 

 chickens such an aid to the hen is particularly beneficial, and will save many a chick that would 

 otherwise be lost at the stage when they are nearly bare of feathers, and require such constant 

 nursing as the hen rarely gives them. Having often used them in this way for early cln'ckens, 

 we can confidently recommend them to others as a real assistance during inclement .seasons, and 

 would strongly advise that one or two should form part of the stock of ever)- amateur. 



n^ l&'"""=^^ B.;ii M/ M- ^^ 



l» 



