PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



we do not want to rear the chickens we shall get into the 

 way of regulating the machine. Supposing we have two 

 thousand eggs to put down by the 20th of May. Our 

 incubator will only hold one hundred and eighty at one time, 

 so we must set our eggs in the following way. On 26th 

 April we will set twelve hens on fifteen eggs each. Next 

 day put seventy eggs in the incubator with date marked on 

 them. The eggs under the hens will chip a few hours before 

 those in the machine, and when a sufficient number has 

 chipped they must be drawn out and put in the incubator, 

 and those in the incubator must be put under the hens till 

 those chipped are transferred to the drying box. You must 

 be careful to let each hen hatch one or more birds, or you 

 will find on taking them to the rearing-field that they will 

 not take them and will most likely brain the lot. After 

 the first two lots are set, we must follow with lots of 

 two hundred, as our incubator will be full enough. The 

 remaining space can be used if any hot eggs are brought 

 in and we have not a spare hen to take them. The birds 

 an incubator will save with careful management during the 

 hatching season will pay for itself, so I advise every keeper 

 to get one. I have stated two thousand as a guide, but 

 anyone can adapt the plan to their own particular circum- 

 stances. I think an incubator is just as valuable on a wild 

 shoot where wild birds only are expected. Make up a 

 good number of nests with two or three pot eggs to induce 

 the bird to lay in safe and convenient places. Do not 

 interfere with them until they become broody. Watch 

 them off, and replace their own eggs with the same number 

 of pot ones. The number of each nest and the date should 

 be recorded so as to know when each hen began to sit. 

 Some will lay a few eggs and then forsake. These eggs 

 with those found in dangerous places should be put in the 



146 



