METHODS OF HATCHING CHICKENS 



297 



floor, put in two or three inches of moist earth, hollow the 

 nest slightly in the center and cover with straw or hay. 

 Planer shavings are also good nesting material. 



Dust the hens with a good insect powder or tobacco dust 

 when setting them, and again ten days later rub it well 

 into the roots of the feathers. Put a spoonful of the same 

 material, or a 

 moth-ball, in the 

 center of the 

 nest. "With this 

 treatment the 

 hen should be 

 free from these 

 pests during the 

 period of incu- 

 bation, if the 

 house or box in 

 which she is sit- 

 ting is not in- 

 f es t ed with 

 them. If it is found necessary, dust the hen oftener. 



Period of Incubation. The period of incubation for 

 different species of poultry is shown in the following table : 



Species Days Species Days 



Hen 21 Peafowl 28 



Pheasant 22-24 Guinea 26-28 



Duck 28 Ostrich 42 



Duck (Muscovy) 33-35 Goose 30-34 



Turkey 28 



Selecting Eggs for Hatching. It is not possible to de- 

 termine whether a fresh egg is fertile or will hatch. The 

 egg must be under the sitting hen or in the incubator 

 several days before its fertility may be determined. Neither 



ANOTHER TYPE OF BROOD COOP 

 Made out of a shoe box. 



