6o NATURAL INCUBATION 



days, for ducks, turkeys, and guineas twenty-eight 

 days, and geese from thirty to thirty-five days. 

 Small active varieties of fowls, such as Leghorns, 

 often hatch in less than twenty-one days. Hatches 

 may be delayed a day or two by the action of the 

 hen. She may not sit on the eggs closely the first 

 day, or she may forsake the nest too long during 

 the hatch. The latter may also cause weakness in 

 the chicks. During cold weather the eggs may be 

 chilled in fifteen minutes, while in warm weather 

 the hen may forsake her nest for hours without 

 materially affecting the hatch. 



To secure the best results from natural incuba- 

 tion care must be exercised in selecting the right 

 kind of broody hen and in the selection of eggs. 

 Then one must pay every attention to the setter's 

 welfare during this trying period. The best and 

 most diligent setter can be spoiled by neglect, and 

 many a poor hatch can be traced to carelessness on 

 the part of the operator. 



An important point in selecting a setting hen is 

 to choose one which is quite tame. Wild hens are 

 apt to break some of the eggs by becoming startled 

 from the least noise, or by jumping from the nest 

 when approached. As a rule the old hens make 

 better setters than the pullets and should have the 

 preference when the selections are made. 



Before the hen is placed upon the nest she should 

 be treated to a thorough dusting with some good 



