44 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



LESSON VII 

 Chicken Ways 



Leading thought — Chickens have interesting habits of Hfe and extensive 

 conversational powers. 



Method — For this lesson it is necessary that the pupils observe the 

 inhabitants of the poultry yard and answer these questions a few at a 

 time. 



Observations — -i. Did the chick get out of the egg by its own efforts? 

 For what use is the little tooth which is on the tip of the upper part of a 

 young chicken's beak? Does this remain? 



2. AVhat is the difference between the down of the chick and the 

 feathers of the hen? The little chick has wings; why can it not fly ? 



3. Why is the chick just hatched so pretty and downy, while the 

 young robin is so bare and ugly? Why is the young chick able to see 

 while the young robin is blind ? 



4. How does the young chick get its food? 



5. Does the chick chew its food before swallowing? If not, why? 



6. How does the chick drink? Why does it drink this way? 



7. Where does the chick sleep at night? Where will it sleep when 

 it is grown up? 



8. Where does the hen put her head when she is sleeping? 



g. How does the hen call her chicks when she is with them in the 



field? 

 10. 

 II. 



How does she call them to food? 



How does she tell them that there is a hawk in sight? 



12. What notes does the chick 

 make when it is following its 

 mother? When it gets lost? 

 When it cuddles under her wing? 



13. What does the hen say 

 when she has laid an egg? When 

 she is frightened? When she is 

 disturbed while sitting on eggs? 

 When she is grasped by an enemy? 

 How do hens talk together? De- 

 scribe a hen's song. 



14. When does the rooster 

 crow? What other sounds does 

 he make? 



15. With what weapons does 

 the rooster fight his rivals and his 

 enemies? 



16. What are the natural 

 enemies of the barnyard fowls and 

 how do they escape them? 



Supplementary reading — T rue 

 Bird Stories, Miller p. 102. 



Parts of the bird labeled. 



This figure should be placed on the blackboard 



where pupils may consult it when studying 



colors and markings of birds. 



