64 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 
hen begins to sit and once a week thereafter. Hens 
often die when sitting because of the inroads made 
upon their vitality by lice. It is cruel torture that a 
lice-infested hen endures and the owner should make 
it unnecessary by dusting her thoroughly, particu- 
larly under the wings and around the vent, which 
work may easily be done if the hen is held by the 
legs, head down. 
A plan which makes feasible the setting of hens 
in the laying house has some things to commend 
it. Two rows of nests are made, one above the 
other, with a hinged board so arranged that it may 
be used to stop the entrances to the top tier or to 
cover the openings leading to those below. Sitting 
hens are placed in the top nests and the board raised 
so that they are confined. The board also prevents 
other hens from getting into the nests, either to lay 
or to annoy the hens which are sitting. At the time 
of the afternoon feeding, the attendant turns the 
board down so that it covers the lower tier of nests. 
Then the sitting hens are free to fly down and feed 
with the other birds. When they are ready to re- 
turn, they are obliged to enter the top nests because 
the lower ones are protected by the board. If as 
many nests are vacant as there are broody hens, each 
