50 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
external force. The thinnest eggs placed in these are perfectly safe ; or if a hen is known to 
crush her eggs when hatching, as some do, the protector will entirely prevent this. A few 
will even partially protect, by bearing the hen’s weight, the bare eggs between them. These 
protectors have, since their introduction, been used and highly approved of by several of the 
best-known exhibitois, and there is no doubt of their utility. It has also been found that a 
small bag of “Insect Powder” enclosed in one of these protectors, and placed with the eggs, 
ha^ a w r onderful effect in keeping the hen and nest free from vermin. 
Fig. 28. 
Some breeders like to have two hens sitting at the same time, the advantage being that when 
half the eggs of both are hatched, all the chickens can be given to one, and all the eggs to the 
other. If there is much difference in the time the eggs chip, this is advisable ; but in ordinary 
cases, where the eggs are properly fresh, things will go on better by leaving the hen alone. It 
should be seen that she has a thoroughly good feed the last time she is off, after which she should 
be shut in, so as to be quite dark ; she will then stay quietly enough while hatching goes on. If 
all apparently be going on well, it is best so to leave her ; but if the eggs are known to contain 
living chickens, yet no apparent progress be made, or if eggs are “starred” and nothing further 
take place after some hours, the chicks are probably too weakly to get out without assistance, or 
may, perhaps, be glued to the shell. Examination should be made from time to time to see how 
matters stand, and if necessary the chicks must be assisted. Keep the egg in warm water 
(about ioo°) while assistance is being rendered, and success may be hoped for. The shell 
must be cracked very gently, and the inner membrane very tenderly peeled off till the chick 
be at liberty, keeping all but the beak under water till nearly clear. The operation must be 
performed in a warm place, and tenderly as if touching raw r flesh ; and it will be found 
that the water greatly facilitates matters, liberating the membrane, and enabling it to be 
separated without loss of blood. The nearly dead chick may then be put by the fire in flannel, 
or under the hen, if a quiet, good mother — under her at night in any case — and next day may 
probably be as well as the others. 
The treatment of the chickens when hatched will be the subject of a succeeding chapter. 
