COSCEBNINa £GG6 AND CHICKS. 



to release itself; then, indeed, an addition may probably be 

 made to the brood, as great numbers are always lost in this 

 way. The chick makes a circnlar fracture at the big end of the 

 egg, and a section of about one-third of the length of the shell 

 being separated, delivers the prisoner, provided there is no 

 obstruction from adhesion of the body to the membrane which 

 lines the shell. Between the body of the chick and the mem- 

 brane of the shell there exists a viscous fluid, the white of the 

 egg thickened with the intense heat of incubation, until it 

 becomes a positive glue. When this happens, the feathers stick 

 fast to the shell, and the chicks remain confined, and must 

 perish if not released." 



The method of assistance to be rendered to chicks which 

 have a difficulty in releasing themselves from the shell, is to 

 take the egg in the hand, and dipping the finger or a piece of 

 linen rag in warm water, to apply it to the fastened parts until 

 they are loosened by the gluey substance becoming dissolved 

 and separated from the feathers. The chick then being re- 

 turned to the nest, wiU extricate itself, — a mode generally to be 

 observed, since, if violence were used, it would prove fatal. 

 Nevertheless, breaking the shell may sometimes be necessary ; 

 and separating with the fingers, as gently as may be, the 

 membrane from the feathers, which are stiU to be moistened as 

 mentioned above, to facilitate the operation. The points of 

 small scissors may be useful, and when there is much resist- 

 ance, as also apparent pain to the bird, the process must be 

 conducted in the gentlest manner, and the shell separated into 

 a number of small pieces. The signs of a need of assistance 

 are the egg being partly pecked and chipped, and the chick 

 discontinuing its eflforts for five or six hours. Weakness from 

 cold may disable the chicken from commencing the operation of 

 peeking the shell, which must then be artificially performed 

 with a circular fracture, such as is made by the bird itsdf. 



The chicks that are first hatched must be taken from the 

 hen, or she may think her task at an end, and leave the re- 

 maining eggs to spoil. As soon as the youag birds are taken 

 from the mother, they must be placed in a basket lined with 

 soft wool or hay, and stood in the sun in the summer, or by the 

 fire if the weather be cold. ]j^ is a common pactice to cram 

 young chicks with food as soon as they are bom. This is 

 quite unnecassary ; they will, so Jong as they be kept warm, 

 come to no harm if they take no food during the twenty-four 

 hours following their birth. Should any of the brood remail" 



