CHAP. IV. PERIODS OF INCUBATION. 629 



Other appliances are the " Tamlin " and the " Cyphers," the latter on the 

 hot-air principle, and these have attained great popularity. They are 

 well made, and many of those who have used them speak in the highest 

 terms of their capabilities. There are other machines sold, but of them 

 we are unable to speak with the same degree of confidence. 



The periods of hatching are as follows : 



Fowls 21 days. 



Ducks 28 do. 



Turkeys 28 do. 



Geese 30 do. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE REARING OF CHICKENS. 



IN the preceding chapter we advised the testing of eggs by water on 

 the nineteenth day, after which the nest should not be disturbed for 

 twenty-four hours, when, if the eggs were fresh when sat upon, many 

 of the chicks will be hatched out and the rest of the eggs chipped ; in 

 fact, hundreds often hatch on the nineteenth day, and they should be 

 dealt with accordingly. If any of the eggs are very late in hatching, 

 remove the chicks already dry, put them in a basket near the fire with 

 some warm flannel both above and below them, and return them to the 

 nest as soon as the rest are out. Great care is necessary if the hen is 

 a young or impatient one, for a fowl of this kind often attempts to 

 hurry the process, and we have known a whole batch spoilt by the hen 

 pecking at and breaking the shells. This confirms our previous 

 remarks that only a two year-old hen should be trusted with valuable 

 or early eggs. Of course, the young hens must learn how to hatch, 

 but they need not have a nest until later in the season. 



By a provision of Nature, the yolk-bag, which is absorbed into the 

 stomach of the chick just previous to its being hatched, gives all the 

 food necessary for the first day, and, therefore, no attempt should be 

 made to force food upon it. Here we desire to protest against two 

 ideas which often prevail in country-places, one of which is foolish and 

 the other barbarous. These are, first, that a pepper-corn should 

 always be given to the chick as soon as it is dry. We have never 

 yet been able to realise why this is done, and those who practise 

 it simply do so because they have been told that it is beneficial. 

 We are almost inclined to think it is directly injurious, for the pun- 

 gent pepper cannot be suitable as the first food which the delicate 



