PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 63 



remove her quietly from the 'nest by sliding the hands 

 under her body, gently lifting and depositing her on the 

 ground. If, after feeding, drinking and dusting, she re- 

 turns to her nest, it is time to place under her a sitting 

 of eggs, usually not more than thirteen and never a 

 larger number than she can cover completely and com- 

 fortably. 



It is advantageous to set several hens at one time 

 because on testing the eggs about the fifth or sixth day 

 of incubation, if a number of the eggs prove to be in- 

 fertile or have stopped development these may be dis- 

 carded and perhaps leave one hen free to be set again 

 on fresh eggs or to be broken of her broodiness and re- 

 turned to the laying house. Further if several hens 

 hatch their broods at the same time, the chickens may be 

 given to the care of as many hens as need be and the 

 other sitters given fresh eggs to incubate or turned free 

 to prepare for further egg-production. 



When setting the hens in the hatching house, place 

 a card above each nest and upon it record the time of 

 setting, number and breed or pen that produced the 

 eggs, and any special items for future reference. Later 

 note on the card the results of the testing of the eggs 

 and of any transfers of eggs. Finally write down the 

 results of the hatch. Preserve the card for future use 

 in studying the results, for guidance in mating the breed- 

 ing stock, choosing sitting hens and working out further 

 progressive steps in poultry practice. 



Dust the sitting hens again at the end of the first 

 and second weeks of incubation. 



Test the eggs before an egg-tester on the fifth day 

 if the eggs are white shelled or a day or two later if the 

 eggs have tinted shells. Infertile eggs may be used for 

 cooking in the household but any eggs that have dead 

 embryos should be saved to feed to the chicks that hatch 

 later. 



If the air-cells show much enlargement by the fifth 

 day it will be well to pour several quarts of tepid water 

 into the loam at the bottom of the nest. This will tend 



