Method of Storing Eggs. 



41 



will lay even 250 eggs in a year, there isjiio reason why a race could not be established which 

 should do the same. 



The best nest-eggs we are acquainted with are those made of white china, as they keep clean 

 and are easily washed. Enamelled wood are not so good, and lumps of chalk become very dirty 

 in a little time. Some people make a small hole in a natural egg, expel the contents, and refill 

 the shell with plaster of Paris ; this also makes a good nest-egg. The furnishing of an egg of 

 some sort to every nest is very important, even in seasons when the birds are not laying, as it 

 tends greatly to prevent the hens from laying away. When a hen has once laid in a nest, she 

 forms generally an attachment to it ; hence the importance of inducing her to lay at home from the 

 first, if the run be large. 



Occasionally hens acquire the vicious habit of eating their eggs. They are often literally 

 taught to do this, by the foolish practice of breaking up egg-shells and giving them to eat ; but 

 the most usual occasion of commencing the vice is an accidental breakage in the nest. If, for 

 instance, a hen breaks one egg whilst sitting, she will sometimes (fortunately not often) break and 

 eat the whole nest afterwards. When the habit is detected early it may generally be cured, by 

 filling an egg-shell with the strongest mustard which can be obtained, mixed rather thick, and 

 placing it in the nest. Cayenne, as some recommend, does not answer, not having the yellow 

 appearance of a yolk. The hen will endeavour to eat it, and, we need not say, gets punished 

 rather severely. We have known this to cure the hen in two cases out of three, where tried ; if not, 

 we should kill her, unless of particular value or a special pet. In that case the only plan is to 

 form all the nests with a false bottom (as shewn in Fig. 24), on a plan contrived by an ingenious 



Fig. 24. 



- • ~ ' -^ TT...,;^„u,.,.^ The board A form's an inclined plane, down which 



i--^;.,-r nf course 



beyond the hen s reacn oeiore sue (.dn ^^^.^ — .- ^ 



several hens use the same nest the eggs are not soiled, however dirty thj weatti-^r ....^.. ^ 

 eggs are only wanted for eating, the boards should be covered with smooth matting or carpet, as 

 advised by the inventor; but if required for setting, the striking on the board B might injure 

 vitality, and B should therefore consist only of canvas stretched on a frame, and some hay or 

 other padding be put in the bottom. The only disadvantage of this nest is the difficulty of using 

 a nest-egg; but by sinking this half through the top board, as at C, and fastening with. some 

 cement, the object will be easily accomplished, and valuable hens may thus be saved whose lives 

 otherwise must be sacrificed. 



For storing eggs, a very good plan is to have a large board pierced with holes, in regular rows. 



Many breeders keep them in bran ; and this latter method is perhaps best for those meant only to 



be, eaten : but for setting hens the pierced board has many obvious conveniences. They should be 



always kept with the large end downwards. This direction being exactly contrary to that usually 



6 



