HELPING THE CHICKS OUT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 224, 15 June 1908, Page 3

HELPING THE CHICKS OUT.

On going into the sitting house on tho hatching morning, sojno of the hens will appear to be sitting lighter, and a chicken's head may be peeping out here and there. It has been the custom (says tho "Farmer and Stock'-breedor") for. all writers on tho subject to adviso, leaviug the hen alone: and ■ with nest 3 made on the bare ground this would bo quite. right, and indeed in all cases if assistance. is not very carefully givon. But in .any kind of nests we mako there will bo fewer accidents with help properly given, lliore should be taken into the house a hamper to put an unruly lien in if required, a basket for chickens, with a piece of flannel, well warmed and folded to keep the .JP' a bowl of tepid water,' and a can of boiling. The first hen may be lifted carefully oE and put down to feed. If too oxcited for that, and.sho becomes a nuisance, she may be put in tho hamper out of the way for a minute. All tho strong dry chicks caii be put in tha basket, and tho flannel folded over tbem. Ihe nest can be emptied and tidied up, and the hen placod on the empty nest. One hand should be' pressed on her baclvj and tho other, used to put underncath her tho damn chickons that still need drying. She will be quiet as soon a3 she has these. The rest of tho crws can bo tucked undorneath her. What must not ,be done 'is to merely remove tho broken shells and strong chicks, an\l allow tho hen to go back to tho nest' and possibly tramplo to death a weakly 0110 or two in settling down. The rest can bo in turn served the same. It is a good plan to start with a vory quiet hen and give her all tho wet chicks from three hens, ' giving tho second 0110 all tho chipped eggs from tho three, and the third all tne backward cws, which simplifies matters at tho next visit.