414 



POTTLTBY CULTURE 



weeks old. At this time instead of clucking to them she picks 

 at them whenever they come near her. 



Cockerels should be separated from the pullets as soon as the 

 sexes can be determined which is at about ten or twelve weeks 

 of age. 



When wishing to sit the hen prepare a nest, as indicated 

 before. Dust the hen thoroughly with insect powder, and 

 when through hatching clean out the nest-box, disinfect the 

 box with a 1 to 2 per cent, creolin, or other equally good disin- 



FiG. 149. — A portable colony house for the youngsters. 



fectant; again dust the hen with insect powder and let her 

 brood her chicks in the box. 



If the sitting hen is quiet during hatching leave the chicks 

 under her, as artificial heat is not likely to perfectly take the 

 place of the heat from the body of the mother. 



As soon as hatching is over and the brood and hen are 

 removed to comfortable quarters the hen should be properly fed 

 and watered, since she has in all probability eaten very little 

 during the last two or three days. This feed may consist of 

 wet bran mash, or corn, oats, and wheat. The little chicks 

 may be fed later since they should not be fed till they are three 

 days old. 



