THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



Be this, however, as it may, fewer eggs, it 

 can not be denied, are to be found in an addled 

 state in such stolen nests than when those of 

 any one hen are kept for sitting, and when the 

 eleven or thirteen are ready placed under the 

 intended mother. We believe, too, that what- 

 ever care may be taken by us in keeping our 

 eggs, their vitality is greatly preserved, when 

 allowed to remain in the nest, by the periodical 

 visits of the hen while adding to the store ; and 

 that the warmth of the half-hour or longer pe- 

 riod occupied by the act of laying, stimulates 

 the embryo, and tends to preserve it in a vigor- 

 ous state. 



WICKER-WORK NESTS. 



A writer in the Cottage Gardener says, " We 

 have used most contrivances in this way, but 

 never found any to answer so completely as 

 these. The hens take to them, and we require 

 no better judgment than that. I believe they 

 are a wrinkle for this article and The Cottage 



W1CKEE-WOKK NESTS. 



Gardener to say, Go forth ! An auger, a saw, a 

 bill-hook, a clasp-knife, a stout piece of leather 

 for hinges, some iron tacks, a few poles, two 

 inches in diameter, cut fresh from the water- wil- 

 low, some strips, and a few seasoned pieces of 

 larch, or any other boards, are all the imple- 

 ments and material I made use of in their con- 



struction. Rive the willow rods into laths two- 

 eighths of an inch thick ; wattle them on the 

 frame as in the engraving. Why I give the pref- 

 erence to these wattled boxes, in lieu of those 

 formed of solid boards, is by reason of the con- 

 stant circulation of air going on through the 

 interstices. This has a great deal more to do 

 with the health and comfort of the hens, and 

 the perspective ' counting of the chickens be- 

 fore they are hatched,' than a great many peo- 

 ple are aware of. In nine cases out of ten, 

 sitting-boxes are too hot, close, and dry. Draw 

 a comparison between them and the stolen, or, 

 if you will, more natural nest in the grass 01 

 under a hedge in the open air which of the 

 two are notorious for producing a numerous 

 and healthy offspring ?" 



CHEAP NESTS. 



A friend, a practical man, recommends old 

 nail-kegs for nests, as being not only econom- 

 ical, but very convenient in regard to cleaning. 

 A narrow piece of board should be nailed across 

 the open end, at the lower part, to keep the eggs 

 from rolling out. A rack of poles may be set 

 against the wall, and the kegs secured to it 

 make attractive nests. We have seen flour- 

 barrels set in the crotch of apple-trees for the 

 same purpose, and the hen takes to them readily. 

 One particular advantage of this kind of nests is. 

 that when necessary to cleanse them, all that is 

 required is to have a kettle of boiling water, and 

 immerse the keg for a few moments, which will 

 kill the vermin. Have a tub of hot lime-wash 

 ready, and wash the keg inside and out with it. 

 If these precautions are not attended to, partic- 

 ularly when hens are sitting, they are very apt 

 to be infested with, myriads of lice, which are not 

 only annoying to them, but often drive the hen 

 from her nest, and not unfrequently destroy her 

 life. 



STRAW NESTS. 



We have seen nests made of twisted straw, 

 in the same way as bee-hives are made; two 

 apartments, one above the other. The objec- 

 tions to these are: they are too confined, and 

 afford a harbor for vermin, and are too difficult 

 to clean. 



