CHAPTER VII 



BROODING 



Let us suppose that your hen has about finished her work. The 

 infertile and spoiled eggs have been removed. If any eggs were 

 broken the nest has been cleaned and the remaining eggs carefully 

 washed in warm water. The hen has been well fed, watered and 

 dusted. The incubator eggs have been properly turned, cooled and 

 ventilated. 



Very good. 



Most of the eggs came by express and escaped butchery on the way; 

 if they came from good, virile stock; if the weather conditions were 

 right— if all the many "ifs" have been favorable, then you will have 

 a good hatch. 



Are your troubles over? 



Not exactly. 



They have just begun. 



Reports of tests made by intelligent men have shown over and 

 over that seventy-five out of a hundred chicks hatched would be a 

 high average to reach maturity. 



Barring accidents every chick should, in theory, reach adult age. 

 But accidents will happen and they must be considered. Sickness will 

 come and it cannot be ignored. Therefore we might as well face the 

 fact that any man who brings an average of seventy-five chicks out 

 of a hundred to maturity has done exceedingly well. 



