Breeding. 2 7 



Some persons prefer to place the egg, when near 

 hatching, in an incubator ; this was the system 

 adopted at the Maharajah's; the incubator was not 

 one of those used entirely for hatching. The chipped 

 eggs are placed in the incubator to avoid the risk of 

 crushing by big hens, and when they are hatched 

 the young are placed in the " mother," which forms 

 the upper portion. Here they get strong and dry, 

 learn to feed, creep under the flannel, and become 

 quite at home ; meanwhile, one or two eggs have 

 been left with the hen, and when all are hatched 

 they are removed to the ground where they are to 

 be reared. I turn them into a kitchen garden, because 

 I find there so much food for the young birds, and 

 there is less chance of their straying away. If you 

 cannot do this, a well-kept lawn or level meadow, or, 

 better still, an orchard, will answer the purpose. I 

 strongly advise that it be wired in. The coops are 

 better placed a day or two before required, so as to 

 keep the ground dry ; in fact, it is best to arrange 

 all just as if the birds were in them. The next thing 

 is when all are hatched, dry, and well to put the 

 chicks out ; a south-east or south aspect is the best. 

 If any are weakly, they must be kept in the incubator 

 or house till fit to put out. By putting them under 

 the hen late at night, they have less chance of being 

 noticed by her. 



