288 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



ing, and later they are found incompetent to manage a brood of 

 chicks. 



Hens from the heavy breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, Brah- 

 mas, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds and Orpingtons, make the 

 best sitters. The lighter breeds, such as Minorcas, Leghorns 

 and Campines, are too flighty, and they are seldom used on that 

 account. Their size is against them, too. It is economy to use 



TT 





'ui WiTie covaTiE:T> T?uims 



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Fig. 184. — Plan of coop for sitting hens, as shown in Fig. 183, sometimes 

 called an outdoor natural incubator. 



large hens because they cover more eggs, though this advantage 

 should not be carried to the extreme of using clumsy hens. The 

 ungainly bird is apt to break the eggs while moving about on the 

 nest, or she is likely to trample and kill some of the chicks before 

 the little fellows are strong enough to get out of her wav. 



Test the Sitters. — The hen that is observed to leave and return 

 to the nest with care and precision and to step lightly is the bird 



