6 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



shells, they absorb the yolks of the eggs, which pro- 

 vides them with an abundant supply of nourish- 

 ment. Secured in this way, the chicks may be put 

 under a broody hen at night or they may be raised in 

 a brooder. This plan does away with all the work 

 incidental to the care of sitting hens. Some ama- 

 teurs find it desirable to hatch no chickens at all, 

 but to renew their flock every year in this conven- 

 ient manner. If it is too late to set eggs when 

 the momentous decision to keep a few hens is finally 

 made, this method of making a start is a very satis- 

 factory short-cut. 



The one draw-back to the purchase of day-old 

 chicks is the fact that the buyer generally knows lit- 

 tle about the stock from which the birds come. He 

 may have bought into a good-laying strain and again 

 he may not. Likewise, if he finds pleasure only in 

 birds which are well-marked, he is participating in 

 a lottery when he secures his chickens in this way. 

 Custom-hatching has come as the solution of this 

 problem. The amateur gets his eggs from what- 

 ever source he likes. They may come from his own 

 flock or from that of a breeder known to have su- 

 perior birds. The eggs are entrusted to the hatch- 

 ery and the chicks turned over to the owner when 



