CHAPTER V 
HATCHING THE CHICKS WITH MACHINE 
AND HEN 
HE way to get good chickens is to begin 
with the hens that lay the eggs. These 
hens should be well-matured, hardy, in 
good condition and come from an egg-laying strain. 
Not more than a dozen birds of the lighter breed 
like the Leghorns and six to eight of the heavier 
breeds should be mated to one male, in order to 
make sure of fertile eggs. In some cases it is well 
to have two cocks for each pen, alternating them 
each week and keeping the rooster not in use in a 
pen by himself. When this plan is followed the 
pen may safely contain more hens. 
Eggs for hatching should not be kept more than 
two weeks and they need special care. They ought 
to be stored where the temperature does not run 
much below forty or much above sixty-five and 
where they will not dry out rapidly. Some people 
make a practice of keeping them in bran; others 
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