Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-30
The Rearing and FattenIng OF
Chickens.

For nearly twenty four hours after
Matching, chickens require no food at all |
and though we do not think 1t best TO
leave them quite so long as this without
it, we should let them remain for at least
twelve hours undisturbed, We say undis-
turbed, because it is a very common prac.
tice to take those first Matched away from
the hen, and put them in basket by the
fire until the whole brood is out When
the eggs varied much in age, this course
must be adopted; for some chickens will
be perhaps a whole day or more behind
the others, and the hen, if she felt the lit
tie things moving ben cath her, would not
stay long enough to hatch the rest. But
this should not be, and il the eess aFzs-ttl7
fresh the chicks will all appear withina
few hours of each other. In that case
they are much better Iett ioith their mother;
the heat of her body appears to strengthen
and nourish them in far better manner
than any other warmth, and they are haD-
py and centented, instead of moving rest
lessly about as they always do whilst away
from her.
Our own plan is to set the eggs in the
evening, when the chicks will break the
shell in the evening also, or perhaps the
afternoon. Then at night let the state of
the brood be once only examined, all egg
shells removed from the nest, and the hen,
if she be tame enough TO receive it, given
food and water. Let her afterwards be so
shut in that she cannot leave her nest and
all may be left safely till the morning
by that time the chicks will be strong and
lively, quite ready for their first meal and
unless some of the eggs are known to be
very stale, any not Matched then are little
likely to hatch at all. If this be so, the
chicks may be removed and put in flannel
by the fire, and another day patiently
waited, to see if any more will appear
We should not do so, however, if fair
number had hatched we'll for they never
thrive so well away from the hen, and it ~
scarcely worth while to iniure the healthy
portion of the brood for the sake of one or
two which very probably may not live af-
ter all.
The first meal should be given on the
nest, and the best material for it is an
equal mixture of hard boiled yOlk of egg
and stale bread-crumbs, the latter slightly
mOistened with milk. Let the hen be
allowed to partake of this also-she needs
it; and then give her besides as much bar
ley as she will eat, and offer her water,
which she will drink greedily. To satisfy
the hen at first saves much restlessness and
trouble with her afterwards.
There is stupid practice adopted by
many, of removing the little horny scale
which appears ON every chickens beak,
with the idea of enabling them TO peck
better, and then to put food or pepper
cOrns down their throats, and dip their bills
in water to make them drink. 1t is mis-
take to say that if this docs no good it can
do no harm; the little beaks are soft and
tender, and are often injured by such bar
no fraa ,YI,t
they do not cat or drink-and chickens
seldom drink the first day-it only shows
they do not wish to; for TO fill an empty
stomach is the first and universal instfhGl-
of all living things
The brood having been fed, the rext
step will depend upon circumstances II,
as we recommend, the chickens were
hatched the night before, or will be upon
their legs, aud the weather be fine, they
may at once be moved out, and the hen
cooped where her little ones can get the
sun. If it be winter, or settled wet
weather, the hen must, if possible, be kept
on her nest this day also, and when re
moved be coopcd in dry shed or out
house.
The best arrangement, where there is
convenience for it, is a shed six feet
square, to be reared against the wall, with
southern exposure, and the coop placed
under it. This coop should be made on
plan very common in some parts of France
and consists of two compartments, sepa-
rated by partition Of bars; one compart-
ment being closed in front, the other front
ed with bars like the partition. Each set
of bars should have n sliding one to serve
as a door, and the whole coop should be
tight and sound. IL is best 10 have no
bottom, but to put it on loose dry earth or
ashes, an inch or two deep Each half of
the coop is about two feet six inches squa@,
and may or may not be lighted from the
top by pane of glass.
The advantage of such coop and shed
is, that except in very severe weather, no
further shelter is required even at night
During the day the hen is kept in the
outer compartment, the chickens having
liberty, and the food and water being
placed outside; whilst at night she is put
in the inner portion of the coop, and a
piece of canvass or sacking hung over the
bars of the outer half If the top be
glazed, little food and the water vessel
may be placed in the outer compartment
at night, and the chicks will be able to
run out and feed early in the morning,
being prevented by the canvass from going
out into the cold air. 1t will only be need
full to remove the coop every two days for
a few minutes, to rake away the tainted
earth and replace it with fresh. There
should, if possible, be grass plot in front
of the shed, the floor of which should be
covered with dry loose dust OF earth
Practical Farmer.