286 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



choose locations which are insanitary or wet, and both are detri- 

 mental to good hatches. 



Fowls are accredited with astounding judgment in some re- 

 spects, yet for all this show of intuition they do stupid things. 

 This point is mentioned to emphasize the fact that no matter 

 how attentive a hen may be to her eggs or to her brood, in a 

 general way her efforts must be supervised by the owner of the 



Fig. 182.— Give the hens and their broods a grassy range and they will thrive 



like weeds. 



flock. Your labor will be amply repaid by the additional chicks 

 reared. 



To set eggs successfully the first step is to get the hen — the 

 right hen, because they are not all good hatchers. Chickens 

 have a certain amount of individuality; some, indeed, might be 

 said to be temperamental. Some hens are quiet and long-suf- 

 fering ; in spite of everything you do to them they will remain on 

 the nest. Others are wild and nervous, and take flight at the 

 approach of the attendant. These excitable birds are not to be 

 intrusted with eggs. Usually they make poor work of hatch- 



