90 



tryman should keep his eye peeled and his traps set for the 

 rascals at the same time. 



Eggs for hatching How long may eggs for hatching 

 safely be kept? To find out, go and ask the old hen that has 

 stolen her nest. She will tell you that she has been hiding 

 away eggs in the haymow or under the barn for at least three 

 weeks, and that she expects every egg to hatch a chick. In a 

 temperature of from 40 to 60 degrees, eggs may safely be kept 

 at least three weeks before they are put in an incubator or 

 under a hen. They should be turned every day. 



Medium-Sized Fowl Called For The market now calls for 

 a medium-sized fowl. There was a time when the demand was 

 for "old hoosiers," but that day has gone forever. I will tell 

 you why. A bird dressing ten pounds has no more legs or 

 wings than a bird dressing four or five. In the case of a large 

 fowl part of the meat is left uneaten on the plate. In the case 

 of a medium-sized fowl, a leg or wing is just right for an order. 

 Shrewd buyers have learned that it is more profitable to buy 

 two medium-sized fowls than one large one. There is still an 

 occasional call for a large fowl, but the smaller ones are the 

 better sellers. 



Be Gentle Be gentle with your birds. The hen is nat- 

 urally timid and easily scared. When kindly treated, however, 

 she becomes tame. Much of the pleasure in keeping fowls 

 comes from having them so tame that they will let their owner 

 work among them and even handle them at his will. One 

 should never lose his temper, no matter how great the provo- 

 cation. The hen is not a reasoning creature and often sorely 

 tries her owner's patience. But if he never allows himself to 

 get angry or treat her unkindly no matter what she may do. 

 poultry keeping becomes not only a source of pleasure and 

 profit, but a means of moral discipline not to be despised. 

 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," is a 

 beatitude as true in the poultry business as it is elsewhere. 



Precocious pullets seldom make phenomenal layers. 



Dry planer shavings make the best material for nests. 



Select a breed of fowl as you do a wife to please yourself. 



Don't go into the poultry business unless you have a "call" 

 to it. 



There is little danger of overfeeding hens after they begin 

 to lay. 



