THE EGGS AND HATCHING APPLIANCES. 31 



to and lift off his hens has to raise his arms above his 

 head, and plunge them into a box in the dark, very 

 possibly dragging out every day on the wings of the 

 fowls two or three eggs, which get broken and spoilt 

 let alone frightening the old hen, who as often as 

 not gives a kick out as he lifts her, and smashes a few 

 more. Still, in some instances, master's orders are 

 imperative. A beautiful hatching house has been 

 erected at great expense, and must be used. So the 

 keeper is bound to do the best he can. Let him, 

 however, guard particularly against the little accidents 

 just mentioned above ; take off his hens himself, and 

 hand them, as he does so, to a subordinate to affix to 

 their numbered pegs. Hens very soon get accustomed 

 to being handled by one particular individual, and 

 resent the attentions of strangers. 



The proper and cheapest method of making the 

 simple apparatus necessary for tethering the hens to 

 their feeding pegs is as follows : Take 3ft. of string 

 and fasten one end to a strip of leather about six 

 inches long; at the opposite end of the leather, cut 

 a slit about an inch long, put the small strap round 

 the leg of the hen, pass the string and part of the 

 leather through the incision, and pull tight; fasten 

 the string to the peg, and the hen will be held 

 securely, without any chance of cutting or injury to 

 her leg. If anxious to be extra safe, or likely to be 

 away during the time that the hens are taking their 

 morning meal, a swivel may with advantage be inserted 



