CARE OF BABY CHICKS. 
Alfred R. Lee, 
Poultryman, Animal Husbayidry Division. 
CONTENTS. 
Page, 
Care at hatching time 3 
Keep the chicks warm 4 
E mergency brooder 5 
Feeding baby chicks 6 . 
^T^HE care of the baby chicks is most important. They must be 
kept warm and comfortable, have proper feed and water, and 
be cared for frequently and regularly, if they are to get the start 
in life that will enable them to develop into large, hardy chicks and 
mature fowls. 
CARE AT HATCHING TIME. 
Most boys and girls set eggs and hatch their chicks under hens, 
which is the best way unless a very large number of chicks is to be 
raised, in \/hich case an incubator may be used. When the mother 
hen is hatching she should not be disturbed except to remove the 
shells, unless she becomes uneasy and steps on or picks the chickens. 
In such cases the chickens should be removed as soon as dry. Place 
them in a basket or box lined with flannel or some other soft mate- 
rial and cover the top, keeping the basket or box in a warm place 
until the eggs left under the hen are hatched. 
Hens should be fed as soon as possible after the eggs are hatched, 
as feeding tends to keep them qRiet; otherwise many hens will 
leave the nest. In most cases it is best that the hen remain on the 
nest and brood the chickens for at least 24 hours after the hatchins: 
is over. Hens will successfully brood 10 to 15 chickens early in 
the breeding season, and 18 to 25 in warm weather, depending upon 
the size of the hen, so that often two broods of chicks which hatch 
at the same time can be put together and raised under one hen. 
Powder the hen with a good insect powder or with sodium fluorid 
two days before the chicks are due to hatch. If lice appear on the 
chickens, or if they are troubled with ‘‘head lice,” a very little 
grease, such as lard or vaseline, may be applied with the fingers on 
the l;iead, neck, under the wings, and aromid the vent. Great care 
186716°— 27 3 
