84 999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 



QUESTION How soon will a healthy chick emerge from the 

 shell after it is pipped ? 



ER In six to ten hours. 



QUESTION Can a sitting hen be moved to another location 

 without causing her to forsake the nest? 



ANSWER Yes, if she is really broody and has been sitting a 

 few days. 



QUESTION How long should the hen be left on the nest with 

 her newly hatched chicks ? 



ANSWER About 48 hours if the hen is to raise them. It is 

 best to have the nest close to the ground or floor of the house and 

 allow her to take them out when she chooses. If they are to be 

 raised in a brooder, remove them from the nest as soon as they are 

 thoroughly dry. 



QUESTION What is the best month for hatching? 



ANSWER March and April for the Asiatic breeds, April and 

 May for American breeds, and May and June for the Mediterra- 

 nean breeds. 



QUESTION Will moth balls placed under sitting hens to kill 

 the lice, injure the eggs also? 



ANSWER Yes ; any strong fumes are injurious to eggs during 

 incubation. Pure air is a necessity. 



QUESTION How can hens be induced to become broody ? 



ANSWER Very little, if anything, can be done to influence 

 them. Keep them away from the male and feed them well with fat- 

 tening foods. 



QUESTION What is considered a good hatch from an incu- 

 bator? 



ANSWER Eighty per cent of the fertile eggs. 



QUESTION Can duck eggs and hen eggs both be put in the 

 incubator at the same time ? 



ANSWER Not for best results. 



QUESTION Does it make a difference whether the eggs are 

 evenly distributed over the egg trays, or may they be left as they 

 are after the unfertile eggs are tested out ? 



ANSWER They should be spread out over the trays in about 

 the same relative position to each other in order to facilitate the 

 maintenance of an even temperature for all. 



