Breaking the Shell, 175 



habit of fitting themselves on to the other eggs, which 

 simply means, that the chicks in the latter cannot get out. 

 Unless the hatching is very uneven, we do not advise the 

 removal of any of the birds from under the hen, but some- 

 times this is necessary, when they should be placed in a 

 basket near a fire, and covered up with a piece of new flannel. 

 This uneven hatching is more the result of some of the eggs 

 not being fresh, than from any other cause. 



Should any of the chicks appear to be unable to get out of 

 the shell, they may be aided, but, as a rule, if they cannot 

 get out themselves they are generally not worth the trouble. 

 We have found, however, that the use of the water on the 

 nineteenth day, almost entirely prevents any difficulty in this 

 respect, but, if it is thought desirable to help the hatching, 

 the way to do -it is to get a bowl of warm water, in which they 

 are placed, taking care to keep the chipped portion out of the 

 water. In this the eggs are kept for a couple of minutes, 

 when they are returned to the nest. Breaking the shell 

 is very dangerous, for if blood is drawn, then death or 

 deformity ensues, but the plan we have here recommended 

 does all that is necessary in the majority of cases, and, in 

 the others, the birds would probably drag out a miserable 

 existence, and be neither of use, nor give pleasure to the 

 owner. A little patience is needed, as sometimes hatching 

 is delayed, and we should not give up eggs that had 

 " bobbed" in the water, for two or three days after the time 

 they were due to hatch. If two or more hens are set at 

 once, then these late eggs can all be given to one, and the 

 others have the chicks. 



