First Treatment oe 
the 
2J 
RUUD. 
69 
stock out of her reach, and only to feed the hen at stated times, else the choice morsels will tempt 
her to eat too much, and lead to that fattening which is always to be avoided by the poultry- 
keeper. 
We need scaicely say that the practice formerly so common of removing by the thumb-nail 
the shaip and horny scale which is found on every newly-hatched chicken’s beak, and by means of 
which it breaks the shell, is simply the barbarity of ignorance. Except in very rare cases of 
excessive debility, to open their beaks, and put either pepper-corns or food down their throats, is 
little better. If anything “ comes naturally ” to animals of every kind, it is the faculty of eating; 
and to attempt to “ teach ’ this to creatures in ordinary health and spirits is somewhat akin to the 
instruction of an elderly relative in the art of oval suction. Chickens generally cat very little, and 
often drink nothing at all during the first day ; and provided they be only fairly strong upon their 
legs, and look tolerably lively, they both may and should be left to their own natural instincts 
alone. Only in case of valuable chickens showing great debility may they be put apart to be 
tempted by special delicacies, or a little raw egg beaten up with brandy be administered through a 
small glass tube. For all weakly chickens, raw egg beaten up alone or with milk, or mixed with 
their food instead of milk, is the most strengthening thing that can be given. A little underdone 
meat chopped fine is greatly enjoyed by all chickens, and is of very great benefit to them. 
We formerly used to give the first meal on the nest, but now prefer to put the hen out with her 
brood, when the family can be fed with cleanliness and comfort. Something how’ever will depend 
upon circumstances, and if the weather be very wet or cold, and the hen cleanly in her habits, it 
Fig. 4 t. 
maybe well, by regular feeding and shutting her in between, to keep her on her nest for one day till 
the chickens are better able to bear the cold. But as a rule the whole should be at once moved 
out ; and where there is convenience for it, there is no better arrangement than that given by M. 
Jacque, and represented by Fig. 41, of a box-coop under any kind of shed, however rough, that can 
be most readily constructed or made available. The coop as figured by M. Jacque consists 
of two compartments, separated by a partition of bars ; one compartment being closed in 
front, the other barred like the partition, and each set of bars having one loose or sliding one 
to serve as a door. Each half of this coop should be about two and a half feet square, and may 
