320 NATURAL INCUBATION AND BROODING 



exceptionally hot weather in the summer or late spring, it is well 

 to leave an abundant supply of fresh water near to each sitting 

 coop in order that the birds will not have to go far for water. 



Cleanliness in the sitting coop or nest is of paramount import- 

 ance, since it means the prevention of vermin, improved health 

 of the hen, and more ideal conditions for the chicks. Three points 

 should be here considered : (1) The droppings should be frequently 

 removed, as well as any cracked shells or extremely dirty litter. 

 This can best be done when the birds are off the nest to eat. (2) 

 An abundance of dust should be provided in a box within easy 

 access of the nest, so that the sitting hens can dust themselves, 

 which is just as essential to them as a bath is to human beings, 

 and it also helps to keep away body lice and mites. (3) The neces- 

 sity of dusting the hen with a good insect powder once or twice 

 during the incubation period. The most convenient times are on 

 the seventh and fourteenth days when the eggs are tested. 



Testing the Eggs. — In order to determine the fertility of the 

 eggs and the development of the embryo, which is the gauge of 

 the efficiency of the hatch, it is advisable to candle eggs at least 

 once, and probably twice, during the hatch. This process is 

 described in the following chapter (p. 343). 



Take out all which will not hatch, thus enabling the hen to 

 better cover the remaining eggs. Or, when fertility is rather low 

 and two or more hens are sitting, take the fertile eggs from one 

 hen and put them under others. If the eggs are tested twice dur- 

 ing the hatch, the most convenient times will be on the seventh 

 and fourteenth daj^s. In natural incubation it may be best to 

 test but once, since testing has a tendency to disturb the hen 

 more than some consider advisable. 



Hatching Records. — It is a desirable plan to have a book or 

 loose leaf sheets containing a record or register of the hatching 

 operations for the season. Such records can be kept for future 

 reference and will materially aid in studying the results and the 

 methods which brought them about. Such a record should show 

 for each hen the breed of eggs, the date set, the date on which the 

 hatching is expected, the number of eggs set, the results of the 

 tests on the seventh and fourteenth days, the number of eggs 

 broken, the number of vigorous chicks hatched, the percentage of 

 the hatch, and general remarks as to results. Such a record will 

 show the keeper when his hens are due to hatch, when fertility is 

 running low, and perhaps enable him to make a pedigree hatch. 



