SUCCESSFUL HATCHING AND REARING. 



Making the Nest and Feeding the Sitting Hen — Operating the 

 Incubator — Handling the Eggs — Brooding and 

 Feeding the Chicl<s. 



By James Shacltelton. 



There is much that everybody knows which everybody 

 is always telling; there is much that few know and is never 

 or scarcely ever told. So I propose to deal chiefly with 

 these obscure matters. 



Not much need be said about natural hatching. The 

 nest should be made right so that eggs tend to be in proper 

 positions, in a close bunch, not tending to fall away from 

 each other. The nest material should not be wet nor of 

 long, stiff straws or hay that will tickle and disturb biddy. 

 And biddy should be taught, even made, to leave the nest 

 once a day to feed. She ought to have water where she can 

 sip it without leaving the nest or even rising from the 

 eggs. Her food is best if rather meagre rations of whole 

 com or wheat and some grit. It is not wise to give her 

 the usual egg rations, for if she should lay while sitting, 

 she is apt to discontinue sitting. It is best not to give any 

 hen all the eggs she can cover. Fifteen eggs of two ounces 

 each is about the limit reasonable for the biggest hen. 



Hens that are not properly fed while sitting become 

 emaciated, their bodily heat is lowered, hatching is made 

 late, or even poor hatches result. Many hens will not of 

 themselves seek food sufficiently often. It is well to make 

 sure that hens are disposed to return to their nests speedily 

 after feeding; an absence of half an hour is the limit at 

 any season and much less in cold weather, if the nest is 

 exposed to the cold. The nest should be comfortable 

 and airy, not draughty, not susceptible of becoming at all 

 as an oven. Consider the hen's comfort. Don't rely on 

 biddy's instinct finding a proper nest. Often a hen does 



