CHAPTEK V. 
THE MANAQEMENT OF CHICKENS. 
I N rearing chickens, as in all other operations of the poultry yard, the nearer we 
can imitate nature the better. A hen that has stolen a nest invariably 
brings out a strong and healthy brood, although there is no poultry maid to 
remove the first hatched chicks, and place them in a basket by the side of the 
kitchen fire. We believe that all interference with fowls at the period of hatching 
is especially undesirable. Many hens resist any examination of the eggs, especially 
when their maternal instincts are excited to the utmost by the chirping of the 
chicken beneath them. Cochins, perhaps, may submit to have egg after egg 
pulled out and examined, but few other varieties will allow of any interference 
at this period. 
We are quite certain that more chickens are destroyed by the struggles of the 
hen, and by untimely assistance, than are saved by any aid that can he ren- 
dered at the period of hatching by the hand of man or woman either. 
Chickens require neither food nor drink on the day on which they are hatched ; in 
fact, both are injurious, as they interfere with the natural digestion of the yolk, 
which is absorbed into the bowels at the period of hatching, and constitutes the 
first food. If grits, oatmeal, &c,, are spread before the hen on the twenty-first day, 
she is induced to leave the nest, and the last-hatched chickens are unable to follow, 
and, being weakly, perish. Whereas, if undisturbed, the hen seldom leaves the nest 
on the twenty-first day, and on the twenty-second day the chicken will be found 
strong enough to follow her. 
The plan of cramming peppercorns or grains of barley down the throats of newly- 
hatched chickens is exceedingly injurious. The best food for newly-hatched 
chickens is two-thirds sweet coarse oatmeal and one-third barley meal, mixed into 
a crumbly paste with milk or water ; the chickens make surprising progress upon 
it ; they are also very fond of a little cold oatmeal porridge, and, by way of variety, 
they may sometimes have a few grits given to them. 
Milk is frequently used to mix the barley or oatmeal, but it soon becomes sour in 
summer, and is decidedly injurious if employed in that state ; no more food, there- 
fore, should be mixed with milk than can be eaten in a few hours. Sopped bread 
is by no means desirable : it does not appear to afford the necessary resistance to 
the natural grinding action of the gizzard, and consequently the chickens soon 
become weakly and affected with diarrhoea from its use. 
In order to satisfy the hunger of the hen, which is usually very great when she 
