Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-24

REARING YOUNG CHICKENS.

For about twenty-four hours after birth,
the chickens can not only do well enough
without any extraneous nourishment, but
be far more likely to thrive subsequently,
If LET alone. than crammed or melted to
eat prematurely. More chickens are de-
stroycd by over-feeding than are lost by
the want of it. 1t is, however, well to
turn them i'm among other chickens that al
ready feed themselves; they will in such
cases. generally follow the example of the
rest, and pick away at whatever is around
A roomy, boarded coop, in dry, sunny
SPOT, is the best position for them during
the first month after which it may be left
open during the day, tor the hen to retire
to when she pleases. In quiet grassy
places, it Is scarcely necessary to coop the
hen at ALL As to food, they may have
every thing which is not absolutely poison
ous though if wet food is given, the chick
en- is thus obliged to take water, whether
il requires it or not, in order to get suffi-
cient supply of solid food, and diseased
bowels will be likely to follow; whereas,
if the food is dry, they can supply them
selves with food and water according to
their pleasure. If Indian meal is well
boiled. and fed not too moist, it will an
swer a very goed purpose, particularly
after they are eight or ten days old. Pure
water must be placed near them in such
a manner as to enable them to drink with
out getting into the water, which, by wet
ting their feathers, benumbs and INJURIES
them.s Meat and insect diet are almost
necessary; but, whatever the food, the
meals must be given at short intervales;
as much as they can swallow, and as often
as they can eat With all their industry.
they are only half-clad till flesh and bone
stop growing for while, and allow down
and feathers to overtake them.
Chickens should not be let out of their
coops too early in the morning, or whilst
the dew is on the ground; still less should
they be suffered to rahge over the wet
grass, which is a common cause OF disease
and death. They should also be guarded
against sudden unfavorable changes of the
weather, more particularly it attended
with rain Nearly all the diseases of gall
linaceous fowls arise from cold moisture.
The period ut which they are left to shift
for themselves depends upon the DISPOSE
ton of the hen. Some will continue theil
attentions to their chickens till they are
nearly full grown, while others will cast
them off much earlier In the latter case
an eye should be kept upon them for a few
days; for chickens in this half-grown state
are much more liable to disease than when
they were apparently tender little weak
lings crowded under their mothers wings.
They should be kept in a dry, warm, place ;
dryness is especially necessary.
Chickens which feather rapidly must be
kept perfectly dry and warm, or they will
die while naked chickens. as they are
termed, or those which feather at more
advanced age, and very slowly, seldom
suffer from the cold, from the fact that their
down is very warm, and their blood is hot
ter, and circulates more rapidly since their
foodlprincipally goes to blood, and flesh,
and bones, and not to feathers. american
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