THE CHICK BOOK 



35 



whea 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 exchange 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 

 bottom 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 verj' 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 more eggs. Another advantage in placing the nest 

 upon the floor is that the eggs do not 

 dry out as badly as when placed far- 

 ther 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 falls to go 

 back the room is darkened, the hen 

 is carefully caught amd placed upon 

 her nest, and the potato crate drop- 

 ped over her. If at this time all re- 

 main quiet the eggs for hatching are 

 brought and placed under them. 

 Prom 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 un- 

 der her and others are rolled to the 



outside to be spoiled during the next cold night. I am sat- 

 isfied that many poor haitches in early spring are due to the 

 fact that too many eggs are placed under the hems. 



We now have our hens properly started on their three 

 weeks' task and have only to watch 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 keep a good supply of fine dry dirt for dust bath bsfore 

 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 desire. 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 us^/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 disturb chose that have been sitting, then when the 

 first chicks began 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 possible. 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 goods boxes covered 

 with tar paper, to keep the rain cut. These are boarded up 

 tight about half way across the front, and slatted the rest of 

 the distance, so the chickens can run out and in, but the hen 

 cannot. Into these coops the hens and chickens are removed 

 when the chickens are about twenty-four hours old, a little 

 bran, chaff or dry sand having previously been sprinkled 

 upon the floor. Not more than a dozen chickens are given 

 to one hen ^ and we often give them only seven or eight 

 chicks each. The coops are scattered out through the corn- 

 fields and in other protected places so that each breed has a 

 fresh run and plenty of grass. When the chicks are placed 

 in the coops they p.re fed dry oatmeal and hard boiled egg 





A Fine Place for Crowing Chicks on the Farm of Cardner and Dunning. 



chopped up very fine. They are also given some fine grit 

 and a cup of water, which is refilled as often as necessary 

 and not allowed to sit in the sun where it will become 

 warm. The second day they are fed on cooked food. Three 

 parts cornmeal and one part "red dog" flour or wheat mid- 

 dlings are mixed with skim milk and a sufficient amount of 

 baking soda to make it light. It is then baked until well 

 done. This is softened with milk or water and fed five times 

 a day for the first ten days. At the end of ten days if the 

 weather is suitable the hen is let out of her coop and allowed 

 to go where she pleases. After this they are fed but three 

 times per day. At six weeks or before we begin to feed 

 cracked corn and wheat. Occasionally a hen fails to return 

 to her coop the first night and we must find her and drive 

 her in, but usually they come back without trouble. 



As each brood of chickens is placed in the coops they 

 are punch marked and examined for head lice. If any are 

 found their heads are greased with pure lard, which usually 

 answers the purpose and a second application is seldom nec- 

 essary. Each night every coop is shut up to keep out the 

 rats and skunks which abound in northern New York. For 

 this purpose a frame covered with a fine wire screen is used. 

 This admits plenty of fresh air, which is absolutely essential 

 to growing chickens. 



