The Hen as a Mother. 25 



retards incubation, as examination of eggs under hens durin 

 incubation demonstrates that moisture is given off, instead of 

 being absorbed. The hen is also careful to avoid draughts of 

 air over the eggs. She will expose them to the air, but when 

 she covers them she excludes draughts across them. This is 

 done to prevent too rapid evaporation of the moisture in the 

 eggs. The chicks assist themselves to leave the eggs, the hen 

 giving no aid whatever except to keep them warm and wel- 

 protected from currents of air. 



Difficulties and failures are often ascribed to the hen, when the 

 cause lies in imperfect eggs. The frequent success of the 

 hen that steals her nest has led to indiscriminate condem- 

 nation of all unsuccessful hens ; but the very fact that a hen 

 steals away to make a secluded nest is proof that she has 

 full liberty to roam and forage, and is in prime condition. As 

 all the eggs in the nest are hers, and from parents in full vigor, 

 the chicl's are uniform, and if one egg hatches all should 

 hatch ; but the sitting hen that has been confined in a yard, 

 and given mostly grain as a principal food, is not in a perfect 

 condition, and will not produce as strong chicks as will the 

 hen that has the privilege of selecting the required materials. 

 When eggs are given to a sitting hen they may vary in many re- 

 spects, yet this important matter of selecting only perfect eggs 

 for incubation receives but little consideration. 



The production of eggs in the winter season and the hatch- 

 ing of broods is really an artificial process to a certain extent 

 the conditions of spring being imitated by the use of warm 

 quarters and nourishing food. The true season of laying is 

 in the beginning of spring, and until the moulting period. 

 The males and females are then active and full of vigor, and 

 the eggs will give better results in the number of chicks pro- 

 duced, while the hens will encounter less difficulty in hovering 

 and caring for their broods. During the winter season the 

 males may be incapacitated by severe cold, their combs 

 frequently becoming frozen ; an excess of fat on the male 



