22 



CHICK BOOK 



New York, we do not attempt to set any hens until April. 

 When the weather moderates so that we feel sure the eggs 

 will not chill, we prepare to set our first hens. Several 

 pens are reserved for our sitters, from four to ten hens be- 

 ing placed in each pen, depending upon the size of pen and 

 also upon how much room we can spare for this purpose. 

 The nests are made on the floor of straw or swale hay which 

 is held in place by two by fours placed upon the floor or else 

 by narrow strips of board nailed to the floor and not more 

 than four inches high. It is desirable that the hens be able to 

 walk onto the nests, and not be compelled or allowed to fly 

 into them. Sometimes if crowded for room these nests are 

 not more than three feet apart. We usually set several hens 

 at one time. When we have the required number of broody 

 hens we take them carefully from their nests after dark at 

 night and place them in their new quarters, having previously 

 prepared the nests in the manner I have described. In each 

 of these nests we have placed one or two glass eggs or possi- 

 bly cheap hens' eggs. By the side of each nest is a potato 

 crate or a frame covered with wire- netting. Each hen is 

 carefully set on the glass eggs and a potato crate placed over 

 her. A hen that has been broody for several days and is of 

 the proper disposition to make a good mother will at once 

 settle down upon her new nest and go to sleep. Occasionally 

 one will resent such treatment and proceed to kick up a 

 rumpus. Such hens should be removed at once, as they 

 disturb the quieter ones and seldom prove successful mothers. 

 I do not find more than one in ten that will refuse to sit in 

 a nest of this kind. The first day we keep the room dark- 

 ened and do not let the hens come off to eat. The morning 

 of the second day the crates are removed and sufficient light 

 let in to enable the hens to see the corn, grit and water that 

 have been previously placed there. A large dust box is also 

 provided for them. Sometimes two hens will fight when 

 first let off the nests, if taken from different pens in the 

 breeding houses, but this seldom proves a serious affair, as 

 they are usually too hungry to waste any time in this manner. 

 After eating and drinking four out of every five will go back 

 to the nest in which we placed them. Some few will ex- 

 change nests, but it is very seldom -a hen refuses to go back 

 to one of the nests. As all of the eggs are in plain view from 

 all parts of the pen, two hens seldom try to occupy the same 

 nest. 



In making the nests we use great care in preparing the 

 bottoms so that the eggs will not come in contact with the 

 floor. We also make them rather flat and large enough in 

 diameter so that the eggs can roll from under the hens' 

 feet as they step into the nests. My reason for making the 

 nests upon the floor is this: Under natural conditions all 

 fowls no doubt built upon the ground, as partridges do. 

 When a hen can walk onto her nest she does it very care- 

 fully and seldom breaks an egg. If compelled to fly or jump ' 

 up she usually succeeds in falling into the nest and breaking 

 one or jnore eggs. Another advantage in placing the nest 

 upon the floor is that the eggs do not dry out as badly as 

 when placed farther from the ground. 



The Eggs Require Attention 



Now to return to the sitting hens. We have them fed 

 and watered and back on their nests. If one fails to go 

 back the room is darkened, the hen is carefully caught and 

 placed upon her nest, and the potato crate dropped over her. 

 If at this time all remain quiet the eggs for hatching are 

 brought and placed under them. From ten to fifteen are 

 given to a hen, the number depending upon the weather 

 and the size of the hen. In very early spring not more than 

 ten eggs are placed under each hen, as the outer ones may 

 become chilled or at least get cold if more are used, then 

 as the hen rolls them over the chilled eggs are pushed further 

 under her and others are rolled to the outside to be spoiled 

 during the next cold night. I am satisfied that many poor 

 hatches in early spring are due 'to the fact that too many 

 eggs are placed under the hens. 



We now have our hens properly started on their three 

 weeks' task and have only to vjatch them carefully and see 

 that they have fresh water every day, with an abundant 

 supply of grit and corn. A lousy hen never should be set. 

 We )ceep a good supply of fine dry dirt for dust bath before 

 our fowls at all times, so we have no trouble with lice. By 

 the second day we usually remove the potato crates from 

 over the hens' and thereafter they are at liberty to come off 

 to eat or roll in the dust bath as often as they desirq. Every 

 day when they are off each nest is inspected and if any eggs 

 are broken the others are carefully washed, but we seldom 

 have any trouble of this kind. I have no use for a ten pound 

 hen as a sitter or anywhere else. For hatching purposes I 

 prefer one weighing not more than 

 six or seven pounds. Where it is 

 possible to do so we set all the hens 

 in one pen at the same time. Where 

 some are put in later they usually dis- 

 turb those that have been sitting, 

 then when the first chicks begin to 

 hatch it makes those set later discon- 

 tented. If the weather is very hot and 

 dry and the eggs are drying down too 

 much, we sprinkle the nests with warm 

 water once or twice during the last two 

 weeks. 



When the chicks begin to hatch 

 we disturb the hens as little as pos- 

 sible. Sometimes if they are very 

 quiet I run my hand very carefully 

 under them and remove all the 

 empty shells so they will not slip over 

 the unhatched eggs and smother the 

 chickens. 



Cooping and Feeding 



Nearly all our chicken coops are dry 

 CHICKEN COOPS UNDER APPLE TREES goods boxes covered with t t 



The young birds soon learned to fly up into the lower branches where they were allowed to i .n . ~, paper, tO 



roost until winter, on the plant of Mr. M. S. Gardner. keep the rain out. These are boarded UD 



