Management of hie Sitting Hen. 
45 
in the season are aiso, as a rule, perceptibly longer and more pointed than those laid later ; and, 
4. It is well known that cocks predominate on the average in early broods, but pullets in the 
later. Hence it is easy to see that in a decided majority of cases these coincidences might give 
a great preponderance of cocks ; and it is accordingly remarkable that in most of the successful 
“ guesses ” it has been cockerels which have been selected for, whilst cases in which a nest of eggs 
chosen to produce pullets, early in the season , has proved true to the theory are almost unknown. 
Later on, for the same obvious reasons, a majority of pullets might easily occur. Some may, 
perhaps, blame us for giving serious consideration and trial to such a theory ; but we never wish 
to shut our eyes to any new light whatever, and think mere ridicule a very sorry method for 
disposing of an alleged fact. We may add that the fewer hens be put with a cock, and the 
more vigorous the bird is, the more cockerels may be anticipated. This is taken advantage of 
by breeders of prize poultry, who want their cockerels hatched first on account of their slower 
fledging (contrary to the requirements of the commercial poultry-keeper, who wishes pullets first, 
for next winter’s laying), and by mating a strong young cock with not more than three hens, 
usually obtain a very large proportion. The first eggs laid of a batch also contain more cockerels 
than the later ones, in general ; but as we have already said, there will be startling exceptions to 
these rules or any others. 
All eggs selected for hatching should be of the fair ordinary size usually laid by the hen or 
pullet, rejecting not only the small ones, but also the very large. They should also be firm and 
smooth in the shell ; a very rough shell showing something wrong with the hen, and usually 
causing ill-success. Eggs unusually long, or, in fact, differing much in any way from the usual 
character of those laid by that particular bird, should also be rejected. That eggs be only saved 
from the best stock, even if the fowls are but common barn-door birds, is of course taken for 
granted. 
Sitting hens do best if each one can have a small pen entirely to herself, where she can be left 
unmolested. A space of six feet by three will answer very well if furnished with a dust-bath, but 
once a week or so the hen should be allowed to stretch her legs for about three minutes, driving 
her back simply into her pen, and leaving her to go on the eggs herself. If she is thus let out first 
of all, and then fed in the pen, she will not remain off longer than usual. Quiet hens do not need 
even this relaxation, but will simply come off, feed and dust themselves, and return ; in which case 
the eggs are far better left to them, only looking now and then to see none are broken. Several 
hens may be set in one larger pen, but in this case should be shut in and taken off one at a time in 
turn, else there will be danger of miscarriage, for hens in such circumstances have a perverse incli- 
nation to go on another’s nest instead of their own. The same must be done when the hens have 
to be set in the ordinary laying-house, which, for want of room, is constantly the case; they must 
be regularly taken off and let into the shed or some other part of the run, and if possible the other 
fowls be shut out till they have fed and returned, or they will not get their proper allowance, and 
may also be so driven about as to be too long in going back. If this cannot be done, the best plan 
is to take them off at such a time that they can get their share of the regular breakfast with the 
other fowls • but as a broody hen ought to have as much as she likes, and be, moreover, fed with 
grain only, this arrangement is not a good one, and she ought to be fed by herself however she is 
set. When let alone in a special pen, food and water must be always by her, and the excrements 
be regularly removed ; but some hens would never come off at all if thus left. Some people have 
thought such sitters best, and have even encouraged their maternal solicitude by feeding on the 
nest ° This practice is not only cruel, sometimes laming a bird for life, but actually injurious, 
the periodical cooling of the eggs while the hen is off acting an important part in causing an 
