38 POULTRY SECRETS REVEALED. 



If the lieii is set in a close, musty room; if she hugs her nest — 

 as some of them do — and If, as a result, what little fresh air might 

 reach the eggs is smothered, so to speak, the hatch will not be good. 

 And if the eggs are "all rotten" you may be sure that they were 

 all fertile, but that they had died for want of the necessary oxygen 

 to sustain life. 



The secret of getting good hatches with hens is this: 

 Set the hen out of doors, on new laid eggs, where plenty of pure, 

 fresh air can reach her. You may place her on the ground with a 

 narrow cover at one end, and a dusting place with corn, water, 

 charcoal and grit, under cover, at the other. This is the ideal way 

 to set a hen — provided that she is a strong, lusty bird. 



Never set a hen on the ground unless she is full of good red 

 blood — a vigorous, "sassy" creature, ready for a fight at any time. 

 The "nice, quiet hen," the lady-like hen, the poor vitality hen, should 

 never be used; but if you must chance such a one, keep her off 

 the ground, and don't expect many chicks, nor good chicks either. 



See that the hen doesn't sit too "tight." As the hatch progresses 

 she should remain off longer and longer. If she knows her business 

 she will time herself. If she doesn't, you must extend the time 

 gradually from five minutes to half an hour — depending upon the 

 weather. 



As a matter of course you will see that she is kept free from 

 lice while incubating and brooding. If she neglects to dust herself — 

 as some of them do — then dust her yourself. Give her grain and per- 

 haps a little green stuff to eat, but no mash food of any sort. 



There is another reason why some eggs will not hatch strong 

 chicks even under the best of hens. Hit or miss mating by ignorant 



