THE INCUBATION OF HENS EGGS 109 



wreck the nest upon leaving it to eat, as in the case of 

 excelsior, rags, or long shavings. At the same time it should 

 not be given to knotting or balling up, but soft and pliable 

 enough to conform more or less closely to tlie body of the 

 hen. Oat straw is probably the most satisfactory nesting 

 material, with wheat straw or hay as second choice. 



In placing the straw in the nest, care should be taken to 

 round the nest out so that the eggs will roll apart readily 

 when the hen steps among them, but not to leave it so flat 

 that the eggs will not roll together of their own accord. 



The nesting material should be renewed for every hatch 

 or when eggs are broken, and the nest carefully disinfected. 

 A vigilant lookout must be kept for mites about the nest 

 box during the setting period, and prompt and thorough 

 measures for eradication taken upon their appearance. 

 During the warm weather, these pests multiply so rapidly as 

 to greatly deplete a setting hen's vitality, even causing them 

 to die on the nest. 



It is good practice to place a teaspoonful of a good coal tar 

 dip in the bottom of the nest before putting in the straw. 

 Many successful poultrymen follow the practice of putting a 

 damp sod beneath the straw for the purpose of furnishing 

 moisture where it is not possible to make the nest on the 

 ground. 



Management of Setting Hens. — When more than one hen 

 is setting at the same time and place, it is a safe plan to confine 

 them to the nest and allow them to come off once daily at a 

 regular time to feed and dust. If all are set at the same time 

 it makes little difference whether they return to the same 

 nests or not. The material used for confining them should 

 allow a free circulation of air, such as poultry netting. 



Clean, cool water and plenty of whole grain, grit, and 

 charcoal should be available for the hen when she leaves the 

 nest. Nothing in the nature of sloppy food, which tends 

 toward bowel looseness, should be fed. 



If possible a setting hen should be rentlered absolutely 

 louse-free before being placed on the hatching nest, as lice 

 form one of tlie commonest and greatest sources of danger 

 to hen-hatched chicks. She should be thoroughly dusted 



