Management of the Sitting Hen. 
47 
a brood. Hence it is often advised to sprinkle the eggs daily with water in summer time ; 
and formeily we always adopted this practice, but finding occasionally bad results follow it, careful 
examination showed that in some circumstances (probably chiefly depending on the hay or straw) 
parasites so small as to be only distinguished by the microscope swarmed over the shells, and were 
probably the cause of failures. This effect is only found occasionally, but we now prefer to find a 
damp, cool spot, scoop a slight hollow in the ground, place the nest-box over it, and put in a 
moderate quantity of fresh-cut grass. This retains some dampness a long time, but must not 
be wet, and usually answers well. A few days before hatching the ground round the nest may be 
watered as advised for winter, but with cold water in this case ; and only two days before hatching 
would we take the hen off, and give the eggs either a good soak, as recommended further on, or a 
drenching with warm water. If we make a straw nest, our usual plan is to take the hen off about 
a week before hatching, and empty a full half-pint of warm water over the nest and eggs, 
repeating this the third day after, and once more before the eggs are chipped ; but all this only 
refers to dry weather : if not warm or dry, watering the ground is quite sufficient. Damping 
the eggs should always be done at night, in order that the hen may be immediately replaced on 
them. We only add that the corners of the sitting-box should be well filled up with the grass 
or straw, else eggs may be rolled into them and become addled. 
The proper size of a sitting-box for a Cochin, or other equally large bird, is fourteen or fifteen 
inches square ; others in proportion. The hen must have ample room, and will then be much less 
likely to break the eggs when stepping in. Should any get broken, the first night afterwards a 
bucket of water heated to 105° should be taken into the house, and the hen being lifted off to an 
adjoining nest, all the eggs be placed in the pail. Then remove all dirty straw, and re-make the nest 
clean and comfortable, after which clean every soiled egg (still in the water) with a sponge, and 
when all are done, replace the whole, and the hen too. If the hen’s breast be much soiled by the 
broken egg, that also must be cleansed thoroughly, or next time she comes off it will probably 
adhere to one or more eggs and repeat the accident. If a broken egg is neglected, probably 
no chicks will be obtained even should the others escape actual breakage, which they are very 
liable to. 
Only a moderate number of eggs should be set. For very early broods, seven are quite 
enough, and at regular seasons eleven are sufficient, except for very large hens. Setting too many 
often loses all, for the hen not being able to cover the outside ones, they get chilled ; and as she 
changes the position of the eggs every day, this happens to nearly all in turn. Besides, in setting 
eggs, it is not only needful to consider how many the hen can safely hatch, but how many she can 
brood when they begin to grow ; else the weaker ones will be unable to get proper shelter, and 
perish. In summer we can be less particular. Whatever be the number, every egg should 
be marked with ink, as some hens will lay eggs several days after beginning to sit, and these must 
be removed. In case of valuable eggs, we also want to know which have hatched. 
Rather small hens about six pounds weight — make the best sitters. Game, though smaller, 
stand in the very first class ; so do moderate-sized Dorkings. Dominiques, too. are excellent. 
Cochins and Brahmas make splendid sitters, from their tame and gentle disposition and ample 
feathering, and most barn-door fowls also sit well. Any hen must be well furnished with body- 
feathers, or the eggs will not be properly covered ; and she ought also to be tolerably tame and 
quiet. It is, however, often necessary to purchase broody hens, and the wildest may usually be 
managed with quietness and care, lifting them every day firmly, but quietly, off their nests, and 
putting them down to feed, and then leaving them by themselves. When a strange hen is 
bargained -for, a nest should be fully prepared for her beforehand, and at least two nest-eggs 
