THE MOTHER HEN 113 



sessed by the hen. It is, therefore, vital that only good hens 

 be used for breeding. In choosing the sitting hen, gentleness 

 is one of the desirable traits. The broody hen should be 

 easily handled. Large size is another desirable characteristic 

 in a good mother hen. A moderately large bird can cover 

 about fifteen eggs, and give to all of them the same degree 

 of temperature. If a small hen is chosen, she can cover 

 fewer eggs, and those near the edge are apt to be chilled or 

 cooled. The hen weighing from five to seven pounds makes 

 an excellent mother. Health is another important requisite, 

 and only strong, vigorous hens should be used for hatching 

 eggs. Those which have ever had any poultry disease should 

 be rejected. Such birds are apt to lack vitality and can not 

 endure the strain of sitting. A broody bird should not be 

 over fat, but merely plump. If thin or emaciated, she is 

 likely to have tuberculosis or similar trouble. The breast 

 of a good breeder hen should be fairly free from feathers, 

 and the skin over the breast feel warm to the hand. This 

 is because of the large amount of blood circulating through 

 this region during the broody period. 



The Hen's Nest. — The sitting hen should always be pro- 

 vided with some form of shelter to protect her from rain, 

 and from the heat of the sun, and it should be so constructed 

 that it can be closed, thus confining the hen to the nest; 

 above all, so it can be closed at night to keep out rats, skunks, 

 and weasels. A large sugar barrel makes a good shelter. 

 Five or six of these can be placed in a row, and all covered 

 with a strip of roofing paper. This will make them water 

 proof, and help to preserve them. Small individual sheds 

 or houses, about two feet square, can be built for shelters. 

 They take little material and very cheap boards can be 

 used. Where a large number of hens are to be set, one sec- 

 tion of a laying house is sometimes used. The nests can be 

 arranged along the walls, two or three tiers high. Whatever 

 the type of small shelter, it should be built in a protected 



