HOW TO BEGIN 45 
birds in a back-yard with a half-dozen broody hens. As far as 
successful incubating goes, there is not a great deal between the 
natural and the artificial methods. With care both methods work 
equally well, but no doubt the inexperienced will hatch a larger 
percentage with the broody hen. It is also generally agreed, 
although it is not readily susceptible of proof, that the chickens 
hatched out under hens are stronger and more vigorous than those 
hatched in the incubator. Probably the real reason is that the 
hen makes fewer mistakes than the machine is likely to do. 
No one ought to set a Leghorn to hatch out eggs. A Leghorn 
rarely goes broody, and when it does, the “fever ”’ as a rule lasts 
only a short time. If you put a broody Leghorn on a setting of 
eggs she will probably desert them before they are hatched, and 
if you do not have another broody to take her place you will lose 
the lot. 
Again, a Leghorn is a small hen, and will not cover more than 
half-a-dozen eggs comfortably and securely, whereas a Buff 
Orpington, or similar heavy breed, will cover twice as many eggs 
and sit till the Judgment Day. It is therefore asking for trouble 
to try to hatch out eggs with a Leghorn. The Leghorn is an egg- 
layer pure and simple, and she should not be asked to do what 
nature has denied her. It will pay you better also to let your 
Leghorn keep on laying while you purchase a broody for hatching 
purposes. If your Leghorn lays normally during the time she 
would be sitting on eggs and rearing her chicks—say eight weeks 
altogether—she will have laid you about four dozen of eggs, 
more than enough to pay you for the broody hen. 
I advocate Leghorns strongly for the backyarder because the 
aim and object of almost all town dwellers is to get eggs, and 
plenty of them. If, however, a Wyandotte is selected it may do 
equally well. It is a heavier bird, and, although not nearly so 
active as a Leghorn, thrives uncommonly well in a small space. 
The Rhode Island Red will do nearly as well if kept intensively, 
and both birds have the advantage of being much better table birds 
than the Leghorn. When you pluck your Leghorn you find the 
carcass exceedingly small, and though it may be moderately plump 
