.354 AGRICULTURE 



of the flock. The best plan is to separate from the main 

 flock a sufficient number of desirable hens to produce the 

 eggs required for setting. These can be kept by them- 

 selves until the hatching season is over. 



In order that eggs may hatch at all they must be fertile. 

 They are made fertile by the presence of a male bird in 

 the flock during the laying season. One male should be 

 supplied for every ten or twelve hens. Since one-half of the 

 heredity of the entire flock is dependent on the male bird, 

 he should be pure bred, the best of his kind, young and 

 vigorous. 



Care of eggs before setting. Eggs should be fresh 

 when they are set, never more than two weeks old, and 

 better if not more than a few days from the nest. They 

 should be kept rather cool, a suitable temperature being 

 between fifty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Eggs that have 

 been badly chilled will not hatch. It is necessary, therefore, 

 that eggs intended for hatching shall be gathered at fre- 

 quent intervals during cold weather. Many poultry men 

 think it is best to turn the eggs over every day or so during 

 the time they are stored before setting. They should never 

 be jarred or shaken. 



Hatching with the hen. Eggs may be successfully 

 hatched either with a hen or an incubator. If the hatch is 

 not to consist of more than from one hundred to two hun- 

 dred chicks, and if the hens come of a breed of good setters, 

 it is doubtful whether it pays to use an incubator. 



Only quiet, motherly hens of good disposition should be 

 used for setting. The nest should be made of a box from 

 fourteen to sixteen inches square, and six inches deep. Four 

 inches of earth should be placed in the box, hollowed slight- 

 ly, and covered with chaff or straw. The broody hen should 

 be removed to the nest at night and given a few china eggs 



