IV 



HATCHING AND BROODING WITH THE 

 MOTHER HEN 



The Right Kind of Eggs — Deterioration in Eggs — The 

 Fierce Sitting Hen — The Novice Learning — "Made 

 to Sell to Amateurs " — You and the Hen — Handling 

 the Sitters — Good Quarters for Sitters — Nests for 

 Sitters — Warding off Difficulties — Moving the 

 Broody Hen — Testing — Brooding 



When one loves fowls, it is most fascinating work to 

 keep company with them through the various phases of 

 their life history, as it develops. Most people approach 

 it backwards, making acquaintance with the matured bird 

 first, the infant and developing progeny later. Every 

 year, every month, — almost every day, — there is some- 

 thing to learn. Even after one has been a poultryman 

 almost a lifetime, he will still learn new facts, if he be 

 open-minded and open-eyed. 



When one is to hatch with hens, it is one of the nice 

 tasks to make sure that the right kind of eggs in the 

 proper number are ready and as fresh as possible, just 

 at the right time. Because one may be uncertain as to 

 just when the hens will be ready to sit, eggs may chance 

 to be kept on hand awaiting their pleasure, during several 

 weeks. During all this time, but especially after the 

 first ten days of holding, these eggs are deteriorating. 

 E.xperiments by Station workers have shown us the per- 

 centage of deterioration found by these workers. This 

 . r> 33 



