The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-04-09
Management of Young Chicks.

ridhds ellehl Ol Dung ShIckS.
In the rearing of chicks, particularly
early ones. the hen must be confined
during the pleasant portion of the day,
so that the chicks may have the advan-
tage of running aud scratching in the
open air. This is au important means to
success Ia former years used coops to
keep the hens confined, but fiually gave
them up. During the, day when the hen
was confined aud the chicks abroad, there
was constant struggle on her part to
get out. She was restless and impatient
and as in all broods, there are some
little ones more delicate than others;
these require the tender nursing and
breeding OF the hen. Her attention is
directed toward the smart ones, and her
whole desire is TO be abroad with TEEN,
consequently the puny ones suffer.
Early broods need protection, and
must be housed in buildings at night
OF late years | have tied tie hen in a
warm, sunny locality, on pleasant days.
give her string about yard long,
fastening it to d pin, post, or tree, clos
to the ground. | use piece of soft
list" about half and inch in width. |
make moose in the end and slip the
hen's leg through it. The harder the
fowl pulls the tighter the loop, but being
soft and broad does no injury. When first
nnp anninn This I ha
chicks safely in basket, aud cover with
a blanket, so that they may not escape,
and | then allow the hen to try her best
to escape. At first hen that is new to
the business will fly, tug az the string.
and use her beak to loosen ii; but the
more furious her trials to escape, the
sooner she gives up and submits. Ny
fowls are gentle and accustomed to being
handled, and are not easily frightened at
my approach.
When sobered down, place some food
before her, and give her the chicks.
Then she is delighted and clucks and
calls them up to her. As the garden is
contiguous, | anchor her in one corner
where she can do no damage by scratch
ing, and be under supervision If any
accident occur. She soon becomes &C
custOmed to the business, and becomes
quite. She has plenty of loose earth,
aud she scratches it over day after day,
Willie the little oueS run among the early
vegetables and gather many insects and
worms, doing no damage whatever. l
keep her in this one place until the
chicks are weaned, which will be in the
course of three or four weeks, according
to the age of the hea and the quality OF
food allowed her. A young hen will
wean her chicks soonest, often too early
for their good After the chicks are
weaned the hen is put into the yard with
the layers, aud the chicks keep on in
their old runs. the lettering post being
the feeding place. In this manner they
miss the mother very little, and do not
pine at all.
My method, perhaps, is a little different
from that of the majority, but it is simple
and well adapted to the converiences
and purposes. All may not understand
that fowls SD u!d early be trained in the
ways they are to go. l do not put my
chicks out when young and the season is
chilly, until the sun is well up, say about
eight, nine or ten o'clock, according to
the warmth of the weather and the age
of the chicks. | have a building for the
purpose of housing the chicks at night
When young they go in at 2 p. m, are
fed and put to roost in the basket, and
covered. At 4 p. m, they are fed again
and put to roost for the night.