36 ATTENTION DURING INCUBATION. 



the spring. The regular moulting of full-grown 

 fowls begins in the autumn. 



Attention during Incubation. 



There is this DISTINCTION in the hen: in some, 

 the desire of sitting or incubation is predominant, 

 which they will repeat to the fifth or sixth time in 

 the year, to their emaciation or almost destruction : 

 in others, the desire is so slight, that they will pro- 

 bably sit but twice, or even once in the season, and 

 then not steadily. It is for the skilful breeder to 

 take advantage of this variation of quality, the one 

 kind furnishing plenty of eggs for the other to sit 

 upon. 



It is proper to place CORN and WATER beside the 

 sitting hen, whenever it may appear necessary, with- 

 drawing them as soon as she is satisfied, not only to 

 encourage steadiness of incubation, but to support 

 the constitutions of those, in which the natural ex- 

 citement is so powerful, that they will remain several 

 successive days upon the nest, at the risk of famish- 

 ing. I have had instances of hens of this descrip- 

 tion fainting outright, and appearing as dead, on 

 their final leaving the nest with the chickens, in a 

 state of total emaciation, having, probably, not eaten 

 or drank more than once in three or four days, 

 during the TERM of their incubation, TWENTY-ONE 

 DAYS. The plan of feeding on the nest, should be 

 invariably pursued with all frequent sitters. 



