34 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OP POULTRY. 



than he really wanted ; but the secret has never been dis- 

 covered yet, and it is even impossible to tell before the egg 

 has been sat upon for a short time, whether it has been 

 fecundated. 



We have, in a previous chapter, already mentioned that the 

 sitting hens ought to have a separate shed and run provided 

 for them, in order that the other hens may not occupy their 

 nests during absence, or they themselves go back to the wrong 

 ones, as they will often do if allowed to sit in the fowl-house. 

 An extensive run is neither necessary nor desirable, as it only 

 entices the birds to wander, whereas in a limited space they 

 will go back to their nests as soon as their wants are satisfied. 

 A shed five feet square, with a run the same width for ten 

 feet out in front, is quite sufficient for a hen. 



If the hen must be set on the ordinary nest in the fowl- 

 house, or when several have to be set in the same house, it is 

 best to take each one off at a regular time every morning, and 

 after seeing to her wants and due return, to shut her in so 

 that she cannot be annoyed. She should be lifted by taking 

 hold under the wings, gently raising them first to see that no eggs 

 are enclosed. This is the usual plan, and the only practicable 

 one in very large establishments. But it takes time to see all 

 the hens safely back and shut in again, and when we possessed 

 a rather large yard for some years, we preferred to allot half 

 a dozen separate pens for as many separate hens ; these were 

 taken off as usual, but were left to find their own way back 

 again. 



A single hatching run should, if possible, be in sight of 

 the other fowls, as it will keep the sitter from becoming 

 strange to her companions, and prevent an otherwise inevitable 

 fight on her restoration, to the possible damage of the broocl. 

 We used ourselves, as stated in the first chapter, a shed five 

 feet wide and five deep, open in front to a small gravel or 

 grass run. Under the shed must be, besides the nest, a good- 



