206 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 



several birds at once, and these may be arranged in 

 nests within a few feet of each other. With artificial 

 or addled eggs you can keep a part of the hens upon 

 their nests a few days, until three or four are ready. 

 Then select eggs of as near equal age as possible and 

 put them under the hens. If the hens, close together, 

 are not set at the same time, there is danger when the 

 first begins to hatch that her neighbors will hear the 

 peep of the first chicks, and become uneasy, and perhaps 

 forsake their nests. If all in the group of three or four 

 nests are hatching at the same time, there is no trouble 

 of this kind. Before putting the eggs into the nest, it 

 is well to sprinkle a little snuff among the hay to guard 

 against insects. If any of the eggs get fouled with the 

 yolk of a broken egg before or after setting, the shells 

 should be carefully cleaned with tepid water, to secure 

 their hatching. Two or three turkeys will sometimes 

 lay in the same nest. This will not do any harm in the 

 early part of the season, but they should be separated 

 before setting, and only one bird allowed to the nest. 

 This may be done by making nests near by and putting 

 a porcelain or addled egg in each new nest. Turkeys 

 are not apt to crowd on to an occupied nest when a 

 vacant one is close by. The group of hens that sit 

 together, and bring off their young at the same time, 

 will naturally feed and ramble together, and this will 

 save a good deal of time in looking after them. The 

 turkey is a close sitter, and will not leave her nest for 

 several days at a time. Grain and water should be kept 

 near the nests. 



FEEDING AND RAISING THE CHICKS. 



One of the secrets of successful poultry-raising is the 

 art of feeding properly, not merely at regular inter- 

 vals, but on the most suitable food, and keeping the 



