254 A UTUMN MA NA GEMENT. 



from ever being dry, and unless there are covered 

 runs for chickens, they have but a poor chance 

 of living through a long track of wet weather and 

 consequent confinement to coops or outhouses. 

 Protection from rain (when the brood is composed 

 of valuable chickens worthy of all care) may be 

 given at but little cost. Wire netting, yard- 

 wide, stretched on frames with a roof of felt or 

 tarpaulin, afi'ords perfect shelter; and these runs 

 can be easily moved to fresh ground — which 

 point is too often neglected, as many others are 

 which give extra trouble ; but the neglect of 

 this is more fatal to young birds than if they 

 were left entirely to the mercy of the elements 

 and the instinctive care of the hen, who, how- 

 ever, only attends to the comfort of her healthy, 

 strong chicks, and walks off with them, perfectly 

 indifferent to the cries of her helpless weaklings. 

 Under the covered runs a heap of sand or earth 

 must be placed, and green food, lettuce, spinach, 

 cress, with, of course, a constant supply of fresh 

 water, always with a piece of camphor in it. 

 Young birds should be fed often, but small quan- 

 tities given at one time, and the food bruised ; 



