64 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



hen begins to sit and once a week thereafter. Hens 

 often die when sitting because of the inroads made 

 upon their vitality by lice. It is cruel torture that a 

 lice-infested hen endures and the owner should make 

 it unnecessary by dusting her thoroughly, particu- 

 larly under the wings and around the vent, which 

 work may easily be done if the hen is held by the 

 legs, head down. 



A plan which makes feasible the setting of hens 

 in the laying house has some things to commend 

 it. Two rows of nests are made, one above the 

 other, with a hinged board so arranged that it may 

 be used to stop the entrances to the top tier or to 

 cover the openings leading to those below. Sitting 

 hens are placed in the top nests and the board raised 

 so that they are confined. The board also prevents 

 other hens from getting into the nests, either to lay 

 or to annoy the hens which are sitting. At the time 

 of the afternoon feeding, the attendant turns the 

 board down so that it covers the lower tier of nests. 

 Then the sitting hens are free to fly down and feed 

 with the other birds. When they are ready to re- 

 turn, they are obliged to enter the top nests because 

 the lower ones are protected by the board. If as 

 many nests are vacant as there are broody hens, each 



