90 INCDBATION. 



may bo sure the chick is in some way stuck to the shell by its 

 feathers, or is too weakly ta get out of its prison-house. 



The old eggshells should be removed from under the hen, 

 but do not take away her chicks from h€ir one by one as they 

 hatch out, as is very often advised, for it only makes her very 

 uneasy, and the natural warmth of her body i8 tax better for 

 them at that stage than atti&cial heat. 



Should only a few chicks have been hatched out of the sitting, 

 and the other remaining eggs show no signs of life when exam, 

 ined, no soimds of the little birds inside, then the water test 

 should be tried. Get a basin of warm water, not really liot, 

 and put those eggs about wliich you do not feel certain into it. 

 If they contain the chicks they will float on top, if they move 

 or dance the chicks are alive, but if they float without movement 

 the inmates will most likely be dead. If they (the eggs) are rot- 

 ten they will sink to the bottom. J'ut the floating ones back 

 imder the hen, and if, on carefully breaking the others,' you find 

 the test is correct (one puncture will be sufficient to tell you this), 

 bury them at once. 



Chickens should never be set free from their shells in a hurry, 

 because it is necessary for their well-being that they should have 

 taken in all the yolk, for that serves them toi food for twenty- 

 four hours after they see the light, so no apprehension need be 

 felt if they do not eat during that period, if they seem quite strong, 

 gain their feet, and their little downy plumage spreads out and 

 dries properly. Their best place is under the hen for the time 

 named, then they may be fed in the manner described under the 

 lieadof "Management of Chickens." 



