104 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. iy. 



opinion of a scientific naturalist, may be sup- 

 posed founded on experience : but whether ac- 

 curate or not, is of very little importance, as 

 the greater part of all chickens, whether male 

 or female, are killed before they arrive at ma- 

 turity, and the cock being polygamous, fewer 

 males are produced than females. 



When the eggs have been duly chosen, the 

 number to he placed under the hen should be 

 regulated, both according to the size of the 

 eggs and that of the hen, in regard to her 

 breadth of body and wings ; so as to be sure 

 of her being large enough to closely cover 

 them, and to afford sufficient warmth and 

 shelter to her chicks when hatched. Indeed, if 

 more than the proper number be used, the hen 

 will probably try to throw an egg or two out 

 of the nest, and if not successful, will not sit 

 easily. 



A good sized hen, two years of age, 

 will generally cover from thirteen to fifteen 

 eggs, and pullets of the same breed — as not 

 having come to their full growth — fi-om nine 

 to eleven. Not according to the common no- 

 tion of there being " luck under an odd num- 

 ber," but from the observation that a hen, if 



