LESSOX XVI 

 Beooding 



It is natural for the lien to brood her young chicks — that 

 is, to care for them until they are old enough to care for 

 themselves. The good mother does not leave her nest as soon 

 as a few of her chicks are hatched. Often her chicks are 

 two days old before the hen gets off her nest. Even after 

 that she looks after them carefully. She protects them 

 from danger, and shelters them under her wings from cold 

 and rain. She keeps them from going astray and finds food, 

 such as seeds and insects, for them. She valiantly fights off 

 any intruders. 



After the chicks are hatched, it is a good plan to place 

 the hen in a brooding coop (Eig. 50). This coop should 

 consist simply of a hover, with a runway in front of it. The 

 runway should be fenced with slats close enough together to 

 keep the hen from getting out, yet not close enough to pre- 

 vent the little chicks from going through. Such a coop can 

 be placed in the yard or garden, or in any out-of-the-way 

 place. As the chickens grow older, they will learn to range 

 farther and farther, and yet will have the coop to run to in 

 case of danger, and to go to at night. 



When chicks must be cared for without the hen, artificial 



brooders miist be used. There are many kinds of brooders. 

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