184 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



are very persistent setters, but are so heavy and clumsy that 

 the loss of eggs from breakage is considerable. Their long, 

 heavy feathers furnish a safe harbor for lice. 



The Mediterranean breeds seldom become broody. Such 

 individuals as do take to the nest are unreliable and likely 

 to leave it permanently with little or no provocation. 



The Hatching Nest. — ^The nest for hatching should be ; 

 roomy and secluded, and placed where it is cool and the , 

 ventilation good. It should be at least sixteen inches square | 

 by six inches deep, and placed where the hen will not need to 

 fly or jump into it. If placed on the floor there is little danger ' 

 of broken eggs if the nest is made right. 



The nesting material should be of such consistency that it 

 will neither pack, as does dirt, sawdust, or planer shavings, 

 nor become tangled with the hen's feet so that she is likely to 

 wreck the nest upon leaving it to eat, as in the case of 

 excelsior, rags, or long shavings. At the same time it should 

 not be given to knotting or balling up, but soft and pliable 

 enough to conform more or less closely to the body of the 

 hen. Oat straw is probably the most satisfactory nesting 

 material, with wheat straw or hay as second choice. 



In placing the straw in the nest, care should be taken to 

 round the nest out so that the eggs will roll apart readily 

 when the hen steps among them, but not to leave it so flat 

 that the eggs will not roll together of their own accord. 



The nesting material should be renewed for every hatch 

 or when eggs are broken, and the n^st carefully disinfected. 

 A vigilant lookout must be kept for mites about the nest 

 box during the setting period, and prompt and thorough 

 measures for eradication taken upon their appearance. 

 During the warm weather, these pests multiply so rapidly as 

 to greatly deplete a setting hen's vitality, even causing them 

 to die on the nest. 



It is good practice to place a teaspoonful of a good coal tar 

 dip in the bottom of the nest before putting in the straw. 

 Many successful poultrymen follow the practice of putting a 

 damp sod bieneath the straw for the purpose of furnishing 

 moisture where it is not possible to make the nest on the 

 ground. 



