624 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vn. 



noticed, and several of the accidents to which they are subject 

 remedied at once. 



The object in having soil or ashes at the bottom of the hatching - 

 box is to provide moisture, so important to successful hatching. A 

 hen selecting her own nest generally chooses a damp spot, and in 

 doing so recognises by her instinct the requirements of her expected 

 brood. Without moisture, the shell, in the first place, becomes hard 

 and dry, so that if the chick lives, it is unable to break through the 

 shell ; but generally we find that the bird itself dies before it reaches 

 maturity. Many failures in hatching arise from setting the eggs upon 

 wood, brick, stone, or cement floors, where no moisture can be 

 found, and the hen, in her state of fever, not only cannot supply this 

 to the eggs, but actually draws from them, with the result indicated. 

 The soil or ashes do not of themselves contain sufficient moisture, 

 but by their assistance we can make up for the deficiency in a very 

 simple and easy manner, namely, by pouring a small quantity of warm 

 water round the outside of the box, which, communicating with that in 

 the box, keeps the whole reasonably moist. 



Some breeders make a great mistake in the way they use the water ; 

 they have got hold of the right idea, but apply it in the wrong way, for 

 they pour the water over the eggs. Now this is in the first place un- 

 necessary, for the heat of the hen draws the moisture from the soil, and 

 gently communicates it to the eggs. But in the second place it is 

 absolutely dangerous, and that in two ways. Eggs rot when laid in 

 water, and there is always a danger of putting too much on the eggs, 

 for the soil, if already charged with moisture, does not absorb it, and 

 consequently they lie in water for a short time. Then, again, during 

 severe frosts, an egg-shell will contract and crack if water be put upon 

 it ; but by the plan we have spoken of, all danger of this kind is 

 obviated, and just the quantity of water which the eggs require 

 communicates itself to them. Of course, during cold weather, the 

 water does not evaporate so rapidly as in warm weather, and the quantity 

 given must be regulated accordingly. 



Hens, in a general way, should not be disturbed whilst sitting, so 

 long as they come regularly off the nests. Still, an examination of each 

 nest can be made every day or two, to see that no eggs are broken, or 

 the nest spoiled in any way. If any such casualty has taken place get 

 a pail three parts full of water, heated to about 103 F., or as warm as 

 the hand can tolerate comfortably, place in it all the whole eggs, re-make 

 the nest, and, after cleaning the eggs, return them to it. Before the 

 hen is permitted to go on again, she should be washed on the breast, 

 and between the thighs, as any sticky substance adhering may cause a 

 similar catastrophe again. 



A word or two about the selection of eggs for sitting purposes is 

 required, because there are breeders who think that the largest eggs 

 produce the largest chicks, and consequently always select these for 

 hatching. This is, however, a mistaken idea, and the proper rule to 

 follow is ; that very large or very small eggs, and those misshapen or at all 

 abnormal, should be rejected. Very large eggs are often double-yolked. 



