28 The Hen as a Mother. 



turned brooder too. Instead of going to roost as usual, he 

 would sit down in the meadow and brood the little ones, with 

 the hen turkeys. I have heard people tell about hens "sitting 

 themselves to death"; but I have proved that with proper 

 management they will sit indefinitely and be none the worse 

 for it. 



" Now for the management of the incubator or hen : First, 

 buy at a druggist's some pyrethrum, buhach or insect-powder, 

 costing 50 cents per pound. I would have it, if it cost me $5 

 per pound if 'vermin troubled any of my live stock. It is sure 

 death to all kinds of lice and it can be used with perfect safety, 

 and there is not much trouble in applying it, which is a matter 

 of considerable importance with a busy farmer. If the 

 weather is warm enough, set the hen outdoors, under a 

 good-sized box in a cool, shady place under a bush or low- 

 growing tree. In the construction of an incubator like mine, 

 you will need a sitting-hen, a hoe, a box, some fine chaff and a 

 little straw. With the hoe scrape away the sod, shaping a 

 rather shallow nest in the ground, then put in the chaff and 

 lastly the straw, placing it around the edge of the nest rather 

 than in it. A flat, shallow nest with straw arranged around 

 the edge I consider the best. Place the eggs in the nest, turn 

 the box over it, and then having raised the latter a little, slip 

 in the hen and the incubator is all completed and in running 

 order, and I will guarantee it to hatch well ; in fact, every fer- 

 tile egg in good condition will produce a chick, if the hen is 

 properly cared for at least, such has been my experience. I 

 set two hens, one on 13, the other on 15 hen's-eggs, and all 

 hatched. I also set three hens on duck's-eggs, putting 10 

 apiece under two hens and 1 1 under the other, and all hatched. 



" Every morning, at a regular time, lift the hen off the nest ; 

 putting your fingers under each foot, and the hen will curl her 

 toes around your fingers when you lift her up. Unless you do 

 this there is danger of her striking the eggs together and 

 cracking them. Turn the box over the eggs while the hen is 

 off, so that nothing can disturb them. Provide fresh water, 



