THE POULTRY BOOK. 
33 
leaves the nest, it is very desirable to give her as much corn as she can consume, 
when, having satiated her own appetite, and quenched her thirst, which at this time 
is considerable, she will brood over her callow young and keep them at rest whilst 
they are digesting the yolk that has been absorbed just before hatching. After the 
first few days some whole corn, such as small-tail wheat, or some barley, may he 
given to the young brood ; and disproportioned as the size of the grains may appear, 
it will be found that they will be greatly relished, and doubtless afford a wholesome 
exercise for the extraordinary grinding power of the gizzard. 
It is scarcely necessary to state that it is requisite that chicken should either , 
have a constant supply of food or be fed at very short intervals. The first food 
should be given at daybreak, and if the birds are hatched in the very early part of 
the year they must be fed in the after part of the day, by candle light, if rapid 
progress he desired. 
With regard to animal food, there is none equal to the natural supply of worms 
and insects obtained by the hen ; small worms, or a harrow full of mould con- 
taining an ants’ nest, may be given if the chicken are in a confined situation, and 
will be found far superior to boiled egg, chopped meat, or any more artificial 
substitute. Chopped curd, or custard made with fresh milk and egg, doubtless 
furnish the very best substitutes for the natural insect food. 
The plan frequently adopted by gamekeepers who are rearing pheasants, of 
hanging up a large piece of horse-flesh, in order that the young birds may have 
a plentiful supply of maggots, is by far too offensive to be employed near a dwell- 
ing. But it may be so far modified as to he employed in an innoxious manner, 
and with great advantage. If any dead animal he exposed for a few days 
during spring or summer, it will soon become a nidus for the eggs of the 
common blow-fly. In this state it may he buried about a foot deep in some dry 
corner of the poultry yard. Under these conditions the eggs of the fly hatch, 
the maggots grow to their full size, and then, preparatory to changing into pupae 
or chrysalises, work their way to the surface ; in this condition they are soon 
devoured by the fowls, and furnish an admirable supply of animal food for a 
clutch of chickens. 
Cooping, which is so frequently employed to restrain the wandering of hens 
with chicken, is not desirable. In many cases it is a necessary evil, but not the 
less an evil ; a hen, when cooped, has no power of scratching for insects and worms, 
which are the best of all possible food ; the chicken^are therefore confined strictly 
to the artificial diet with which they are supplied. Another objection to the 
employment of coops is that the hen does not so soon recover the effects of her 
confinement in sitting as when she is allowed her liberty and obtains green food to 
peck at. 
It is frequently said that when hens are not cooped they roam so far that the 
chickens become fagged, and that oftentimes they are left behind by the hen. If 
the hen and chicken are well fed, and at short intervals, this will not occur ; but 
should giving them their entire liberty be objectionable, the plan of enclosing a 
