JHAPTER V. 
NATURAL INCUBATION 
Although, in our opinion, there is greater skill re- 
’/ juired in caring for the little chicks than in getting 
them out well, a good deal of the success of the poultry 
crop depends upon the management of the hens while 
sitting. Those that steal their nests and follow their 
own instincts do very well if they-are not disturbed, but 
frequently they get frightened or robbed, and the eggs 
are lost. As arule, it is better to have all the sitting 
birds completely under your control, and make them 
follow your will rather than their own instincts. With 
a well-arranged poultry-house it takes but a little time 
daily to have all the birds come off for food and exer- 
cise. But without this we can manage to make the 
sitters regular in their habits. The best plan, usually, 
is to set the hens near together in a sheltered spot in 
boxes or barrels that we can cover, and thus perfectly 
protect them against enemies, and at the same time 
compel them to sit until the box is uncovered. Wher- 
ever they may lay, when they want to sit, remove them 
to a shed in an inclosed yard, by night, and put them 
securely upon a nest full of eggs. Every day about 
twelve o’clock remove the covers, and carefully take the 
hens from their nests for food and water. In pleasant 
weather they take from half to three-quarters of an 
hour to scratch in the dirt and take their dust-bath. 
Most of them return to their nests voluntarily before 
the time is up. Occasionally a bird will take to the 
wrong nest. It takes but a few minutes to see every 
bird in her place, and make her secure for the next 
twenty-four hours. As the hatchirg-time approaches, 
(46) 
