CHAPTER III. 



BREEDING. 



When to Obtain Stock Persecution of Hens by Cocks: 

 How to Prevent Early Layers Laying Hens 

 Shelters Dangers of Laying in the Open Feeding 

 Setting Treatment of Sitting Hens Making a 

 Nest Soiling from Broken Eggs Sitting Boxes : 

 Ventilation of Damping Eggs Testing Eggs 

 Hatching Chipped Eggs Christy's Egg Protector 

 Incubators: Advantages of. 



is certainly best to obtain your stock and 

 young birds in the autumn ; they get more 

 used to the place, tamer, and, in every way, 

 settle down better, than old birds. Under the several 

 varieties, I shall indicate the requisite number of hens 

 to be kept to each cock. In all varieties, the cock 

 will sometimes persecute the hen, plucking her head 

 bare and picking out her eyes. The best plan to 

 avoid this is to cut one of his wings hard ; this will 

 allow her to escape him. Still, if he is determined, it 

 will go hard with her, and she must be removed. 

 Amhersts are terrible tyrants some cocks kill every 

 hen ; but, during the winter months, you may keep 



