HATCHING. 63 



the earliest hatched chicken would die of starva- 

 tion before the whole were brought out. 



I strongly deprecate the custom of removiag 

 chickens from the nest, and keeping them in 

 baskets, before the fire ; there is no warmth so 

 suited for them as that of the hen's body. 



After removing the empty shells from the 

 nest, leave the little creatures with their mother, 

 undisturbed for twelve hours. When that time 

 has elapsed, you may offer them food and water. 



If the egg has been chipped for some hours, 

 and the chick does not make its appearance, a 

 slight assistance may be given, by enlarging the 

 fracture with scissors, cutting up towards the 

 large end of the egg, never down, or the loss of 

 blood may prove fataL When the chicken, at 

 last, makes its way out, do not interfere with it, 

 or attempt to feed it. Animal heat alone can 

 restore it ; if it survives the night, it may be 

 considered safe. Weakness has caused the delay, 

 and this has probably arisen from insufficient 

 warmth ; the hen may have had too many eggs 

 to sit upon, or they may have been stale when 

 set If the chickens come out in the morning 



