62 HEN-HOUSE. 



three times during the year. To economize 

 room, it is often recommended to place the 

 nests in the same chamber in which the 

 fowls roost. This is, I think, a bad practice. 

 The sitting hens, under the best and most 

 careful management, become lousy in such 

 situations, and they are more liable to be 

 disturbed by other fowls either laying to 

 them, or, by insisting upon sitting in the 

 same place, either disturb or drive them from 

 the nest. The plan just stated obviates all 

 these inconveniences. 



It is usual to leave a nest egg, in order, 

 as is supposed, to induce or to direct the 

 hens where to lay. For this purpose one 

 egg is usually left in the nest ; but as this is 

 liable to burst in cold weather, an old or 

 addled egg is selected ; but even this, sooner 

 or later, becomes broken, and leaves the 

 nest in so filthy a condition, that it is long 

 before the disgusting smell can be removed, 

 or the hen be induced to lay there again. 

 To remedy this inconvenience, some put in 

 its place a piece of chalk, the size and shape 

 of an egg ; this, Ijowever, does not last long, 



