Caprice of Hens, 65 



li at all, would be hatched too late for the 

 brood. It is taken for granted, the box 

 and nest have been made perfectly clean 

 for the reception of the hen, and that a 

 new nest has not been sluggishly and skit- 

 tishly thrown upon an old one, from the 

 filth of which, vermin are propagated to 

 the great annoyance of the hen, and pre- 

 vention of her steady sitting. 



Eggs broken in the nest, should be 

 cleared away the instant of discovery, and 

 the remaining washed with warm water, and 

 quickly replaced, lest they adhere to the 

 hen, and be drawn out of the nest : if ne- 

 cessary, the hen's feathers may also be 

 washed, but always with warm water. 



With respect to the capriciousness of 

 some hens, in the article of sitting, it is 

 a risk which must be left to the judgment of 

 the attendant, who has to determine whe- 

 ther or not the hen which appears desirous 

 of sitting, may be safely trusted with eggs. 

 Leaving a number of eggs in the nest, is an 

 enticement. Very frequently, a hen will 

 cluck and appear hot for incubation, yet 



