THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 107 



tion of vinegar in which pepper has been steeped, to be 

 applied to the under parts, as a means of inducing this 

 desire ; and others even advise that some of the feathers 

 of the abdomen be plucked off, and the skin stung with 

 nettles ! Such means may induce fever, and a desire to 

 cool the inflamed skin by applying it to cool substances, 

 but not a genuine natural impulse to fulfil the great law 

 of nature. Let them never be put into practice. They 

 are barbarous and contemptible. By high feeding, some 

 hens, especially of the Dorking breed, which, as sitters, 

 take the pre-eminence over all other breeds, may be in- 

 duced to sit in October, especially if they have moulted 

 early. Advantage may betaken of this circumstance 

 at the South, and chickens may be obtained fit for the 

 table by Christmas — not, however, without great care 

 and trouble. The incubation must take place, and the 

 chickens be reared and fed, in a warm room, if neces- 

 sary, kept at an equal temperature. Generally speak 

 ing, spring chickens are more desirable, which should be 

 hatched in January, so as to be ready for the market in 

 the latter part of March, and through the months of 

 April, May, and June. They require great care, but 

 they return an ample profit. 



The most usual time in which hens manifest a desire 

 to incubate, extends from March to May or June, and 

 at this season chickens may be reared without any ex- 

 traordinary precautions. 



When the determination to sit. becomes fixed, — there 

 is no need to indulge the first faint indications immedi- 

 ately — let her have the nest she has selected well cleaned 

 and filled with fresh straw. The number of eggs to be 

 given to her will depend upon the season, and upon their 

 and her own size. The wisest plan is not to be too 

 greedy. The number of chickens hatched is often in 

 inverse proportion to the number of eggs sat. I have 

 known only three to be obtained from eighteen. Hens 

 will, in general, well cover from eleven to thirteen 

 eggs laid by themselves. A Bantam may be trusted 

 with about half a dozen eggs of a large breed, such as 

 the Spanish. A hen of the largest size, as a Dorking, 

 will successfully hatch, at the most, five goose eggs. 



