BROODING THE CHICKS 77 



not climb into it and get wet. Chick fountains 

 may be purchased cheaply, but are easily made at 

 home by the combination of a tin can and a flower 

 pot saucer. One end of the can should be removed 

 and one side at that end pushed or hammered in. 

 Then the can may be filled with water, the saucer 

 placed over it and the can quickly inverted. The 

 saucer will be found partly filled with water and 

 more will run out as that is consumed. The same 

 result is secured by making a hole in the side of the 

 can just below the edge of the saucer, the latter be- 

 ing large enough so that the chicks can drink around 

 the sides of the saucer. Many people adopt the 

 simple expedient of filling a small dish with water 

 and putting a half brick or a stone in the middle, 

 so that the chickens cannot get into the water. 



Chick grit should be kept in the coop and it is also 

 well to have a little charcoal where it is always ac- 

 cessible. Nothing has been said about wet mashes 

 for chicks. All that need be said now is that they 

 are not to be recommended, especially for the 

 amateur, who wants the nearest approach to a safe 

 and sure method of raising his chicks. Yes, it is 

 true that our grandmothers fed sloppy mashes and 

 raised a fair percentage of their chicks. It is a 



