78 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



mystery, though, how they did it. And anyway, 

 what is the use of going to the time and trouble of 

 mixing a mash when a little dry feed can be scat- 

 tered in the litter in a quarter of the time ? 



It is usually considered wise to keep the hen con- 

 fined to the coop while the chicks are allowed to run 

 at large, but the youngsters should not be allowed 

 their freedom until the dew has disappeared from 

 the grass, if they have a grass run. And the hen — 

 patient old mother — should not be forgotten. 

 Plenty of whole or cracked corn and some oats may 

 be given her, at first in a tall dish that the chicks 

 cannot get into, and she should have water always 

 at hand. Likewise, she should be dusted at least 

 once a week with a lice powder, well worked into 

 the feathers, so that the chicks will get some bene- 

 fit from it. 



Chicks with a hen are certain to suffer from the 

 plague of lice. If neglected, they may die from the 

 inroads upon their vitality made by these pests. 

 When chicks stand around moping, it is time to get 

 out the dusting box. The chicks ought never to 

 reach this stage, though, for an application of pow- 

 der made at night when the hen has been lifted off, 

 should be a weekly practice, beginning the first day. 



