INCUBATION 91 



form. Eggs of irregular size are unfit for incubation. 

 Eggs of this kind seldom, if ever, produce perfect chicks. 

 Eggs set under hens gain a smooth gloss from contact 

 with the body of the hen. By this means, as the process of 

 incubation advances, the pores of the eggshell are closed. 



Moving the Broody Hen. Broody hens of quiet dis- 

 positions can be moved anywhere and may be actually 

 placed on the nests if they are properly handled. To 

 move a sitting hen, place the left hand gently under 

 her breast bone, and take the shanks in the right hand 

 with one finger between them. Clasp her firmly but 

 gently; raise her from the nest, holding her against the 

 body with the head toward you and the tail away from 

 you. Do not carry her by the shanks, head hanging 

 down. Place the hen gently on the nest, in which 

 should be a few test eggs; settle her quietly with one 

 hand on her back, the other smoothing her head just 

 a little of this then remove the hands and cover or 

 close the hen in the nest. If she settles down at once 

 on the nest and turns the eggs with the motion of her 

 body and wings, moving has been successful; if she is 

 restless, shut her in the nest and do not disturb her until 

 morning. It is always best to move broody hens at 

 night. If the hen takes quietly to the nest and eggs, 

 as she is apt to do during the night, let her remain 

 undisturbed until an hour before sundown, then permit 

 her to come from the nest for food and water. If she 

 refuses to sit during the night and day, she had best 

 be returned to the flock of hens. 



Care of Sitting Hens. If the hen is quiet and willing 

 to sit, dust her body with insect powder as already 

 described and let her stay the second day on the nest, 

 permitting her to feed before noon of the second day. 

 If she returns to the nest herself, all is well; if she 

 does not, place her on the nest again. After 2 da. of 

 proper behavior on the part of the hen, dust the nest 

 and the hen's body again with the insect powder, and 

 place an odd number of eggs in the nest. Some -hens 

 can cover 13 eggs, others only 9 or 11. Do not crowd 



