West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-03-07
Management OF Young Chicks.

In the rearing Of chicks, particularly
early ones, the hen must be confined
during the pleasant portion of the day.
30 that the chicks may have the advan-
tage OF running and scratching in the
open air. This is an important means
To success. In former years | used
coops to keep the hens confined, but
finally gave them up. During the dav.
when the hen was confined and the
chicks abroad, there was constant
struggle on her part TO get out She
was restless and impatient, and. az i'm
all broods, there are some little ones
more delicate than the others: these re-
quro the tender nursing and broodng
OF the hen. Her attention is directed
toward the smart ones, and her whole
desire is to be abroad with them, con-
sequently the puny ones suffer.
Early brOods need protec ton. and
must be housed N build nos at NIGHT.
OF late years, have tied the hen in a
warm, sunny locality, on pleasant, DAYS.
| give her a string about a ward lone.
fastening IL securely TO pin, post. or
tree close to the ground. use piece
OF soft list about half an inch in
width. ! make a moose in the end. and
slip the hens leg through it, The
harder the fowl pulls, the tighter the
loop, but being so and broad, does no
injury. When first commencinc this
operation, place the chicks all safely
in basket, and cover with a blanket
so that they may not escape, and I then
allow the hen to try her best to escape.
At first a hen that is new TO the business
Will fly, tug nj the string, and use her
beaK to loosen il; but the more furious
her trials 20 escape. the sooner she
gives up and subm Is. MY fowls are
gentle and accustomed TO being handled
and are not easily frightened on my
approach.
When sobcred down. place some
tOod before her. and give her the chicks
Then she is delighted. and cluc!ls and
calls them mp 10 her. As the garden is
contiguous. ] anchor her in one corner
where she can do no DAMAGE bv scratch
ing, and be- und,r supervision If any ac-
cldcnt occur. She soon becomes ac-
eustOmed to the business. and becomes
quiet She has plenty Of loose earth.
and scratches Il over day after dav
while tho little ones run among the
9arly vegetables. and gather many in
Hects and worms, doing no harm what.
ever. keep her in this one place UNI
iii the chicks arr wcarcd. which will I've
IN the course of three Ot four weeks. &C.
fordiug to the age Of the hen. and The
o1antity Of food allowed her. a Young
Pen Will wcan her chicks soonest. often
100 early for their good. After the
chicks Gre weaned, tho hen IL put into
lie yard with the layers, aud the chicks
keep on in their old runs. the lettering
post being their feeding place In this
manner they miss the mother very little,
and do not pine az all
BY method, perhaps, is a little differ.
ent from that OF the majority, but % is
simple and vel adapted 70 my con
Yeniences and purposes All may not
understand that fowls should early be
trained in the ways they are TO 70. /
DO not put my chicks out whom young
and the season is chilly. until the sun is
well up. say about eight, nine. or ten
O'Clock, according 20 the warmth Of the
weather and are Of chicks. J have n
building for ne purpose II housing the
chicks no night When youue. they 0o
Do al two p. w., are fed and pot 20 roo.t
100 the basket. and covered At four p.
m. they are ted again and put 10 roost
Tor the night car. Country Genue.
U01.