CARE OF THE YOUNG CHICKS 323 
free range, if desired, but should confine the hen. It should pro- 
vide ample shelter for both hen and chicks during wet weather. 
In the construction of such coops, 1 x 2 inch strips and plaster 
laths make an excellent yard for the hen and chicks to exercise in, 
and shelter and sleeping coop can be built at one end. The brooder 
coop should be located in a spot sheltered from the wind, where 
there is plenty of green grass and some protection from enemies. 
The floor should be elevated, and covered to quite a depth with 
sand, to keep it dry and to facilitate cleaning. The hen and chicks 
should be transferred to the brooder coop about sixty hours after 
the hatch, or when the chicks have dried off and are ready to leave 
the nest in search of feed. In making the transfer it is best to 
carry the hen under the arm and the chicks in a basket or other 
handy receptacle, the chicks being put in the coop first, and the 
hen gently placed in after them. By this procedure there is less 
danger of the hen trampling on her chicks. 
Care of the Young Chicks.—The chicks should be kept close 
to the hen for a few days, until they get accustomed to the coop 
and know where to run for protection. It should also be made 
certain that they are securely fastened in the coop with the hen 
at night, also that they are under shelter in the coop in spells of 
rainy weather during the first few weeks after hatching. 
Feeding the Young Chicks —When chicks are hatched under 
hens, the feed should be easily seen, easily digested, and fed spar- 
ingly. Crowding the digestive system of young chicks is always 
a dangerous, undesirable, and unprofitable practice. Dry, crushed, 
hard grain is the best and safest material. In artificial brooding 
this question of feeding must be considered, but it is of no practical 
importance in natural brooding, because the hen will see to the 
feeding. As soon as they have been put in the brooder coop, give 
the hen a good feed of whole corn and place water where she and 
the chicks can drink it, then throw a little rolled oats on the sand. 
This is probably the best feed for young chicks, because, owing to 
its light color, it attracts their attention and they can see to eat it. 
Bread crumbs soaked in milk make an excellent first feed for 
naturally hatched chicks, as do hard-boiled eggs, to which use 
infertile eggs can be put. The general practice, however, and it 
is a good one, is to start the chicks on fine cracked corn or wheat. 
For the first few days only a limited amount of the grain should 
be given, but after they have learned to eat they should be fed 
two or three times a day with good feed which they can clean up 
