40 QUAILOLOGY - DOMESTICATION, ETC. 



discommode the hen, aboiut the time the chicks are to hatch. 

 The bottom should be covered with fresh dirt, and a sufficient 

 amount of clean straw or hay arranged in it to make a good 

 nest and we are ready for the hen, which should be free from 

 VERMIN and kept free from lice as these pests will cause the 

 loss of every chick if allowed to affect them, and eggs. Do 

 not give the hen more eggs than she can cover nicely. About 

 the time the eggs are to hatch, the 19th to 21st day, cover the 

 box with a wire screen to keep the chicks from escaping. 

 Remove the hen and chicks the day following their hatching to 

 their run quarters, as further noted under ' "Feed and Care of 

 Chicks." 



We have had considerable experience with one of Geo. H. 

 Stahl's "Wooden Hen" incubators, 50 capacity, running it ac- 

 cording to the regulations for hatching out chicken eggs. In 

 connection we have used his "Hen" brooder. Our experience 

 has been profitable in that we never lost an egg, and find our 

 incubator hatched birds to be as healthy and much tamer than 

 those hatched by the parent birds or bantam hens. 



C 



Feed & Care if! 



Here we come to the most important topic of our work, for 

 upon the feed and care of our birds greatly depends our suc- 

 cess. Here we have again to look into the secrets of Nature 

 for the proper articles of sustenance for them, to bring forth 

 satisfactory results, healthy and prolific birds. Every care 

 should be taken to supplant the conditions and food supplied by 

 Nature. A regular hour for feeding, a variation of food, plenty 

 of animal and vegetable matter, clean fresh water every day, 

 grit, and a good supply of road dust for dusting purposes. 

 The aviary should be so placed as to give plenty of sunlight 

 and shelter during the winter months, and in the summer to 



