CHAPTER VII 



EARLY FERTILITY 



DURING the month of March there are always 

 many complaints about eggs not hatching. The 

 reasons for them are many, some of which could be 

 avoided if the amateur poultry breeder would pay 

 more attention to the laws of nature. 



April, May, and June are the natural months for 

 domesticated hens to lay and brood. During those 

 months the hens get the proper amount of sun- 

 shine, vegetation, and other necessities which pro- 

 mote conditions ideal for productiveness. If we 

 want earlier hatches, and most of us do, it is then 

 only natural that we must supply these seasonable 

 conditions in an artificial way. Those who neglect 

 to do this will not get a large percentage of hatch- 

 able eggs, and those that do hatch are liable to 

 produce a chick lacking in vitality. 



To produce the right kind of early hatching eggs 

 it is necessary to have a properly constructed hen- 

 house, one which is well protected from the fierce 

 north and west winds, windows facing the south 

 affording lots of sunshine, and also fresh air both 

 during the day and night. A well protected scratch- 

 ing shed is also advisable, but this can be dispensed 

 with, providing, of course, the henhouse proper is 



