18 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
veniently situated, we should do well in allowing her to retain possession ; for, 
if we move her, she may be rendered restless, and, in endeavouring to regain 
the place of her own choosing, may afterwards desert the eggs. Where, however, 
she is a stranger, brought to us for the purpose of hatching out a brood, it is 
generally a matter of uncertainty how far she will approve the change and 
steadily discharge her duty. We have had hens that took immediately to their 
nests when first brought to us ; and some, on the other hand, that no arrange- 
ment for their comfort could induce to continue the occupation that they 
had commenced elsewhere. There is another inconvenience attached to hens 
thus brought to us from other places — and that is, when their chickens are 
hatched, they, as strangers to their companions, are liable to attack, or be 
attacked by, every hen about the place, and manifold evil consequences to 
themselves and their progeny are the result. 
In large fowl-houses, where hundreds of poultry are kept together, a separate 
sitting house should be provided. If this could be so arranged as to be merely 
separated by wire or lattice-work from their usual abode, and the hens were placed 
in it so soon as they showed a tendency to sit, the neighbourhood of their com- 
panions would reconcile them more quickly to the change, and there would be 
less difficulty in getting them to sit closely. It is absolutely necessary, however, 
to secure them from the incursions of the other fowls ; and this the intervention 
of the lattice or wire-work would effect. Where three or four hens and a cock 
are the sole tenants of the house and yard, there are usually spare nests, where 
the eggs can he placed without risk of injury. To make them the more secure, 
however, it would be well to keep the hen shut in for a day or so, when any other 
fowls that might have been in the habit of laying there would have chosen another 
place. 
It is the practice of many persons who have numbers of sitting hens to remove 
them from the nests at a stated hour daily, the morning being the preferable time ; 
they should then he supplied with barley, ad libitum^ and clean water ; if prac- 
ticable, they should he permitted to have access to a grass run, and, under all 
circumstances, allowed to avail themselves of a dusting place. Where there are 
many hens sitting this plan is advantageous, as it ensures each being fed, and 
prevents the eggs being cooled by the lengthened absence of the hen at times 
when no food is being given. Many persons also confine their sitting hens either 
by shades in front of the nests, or by placing coops over them if on the ground, 
the object being to prevent their being disturbed by the intrusion of fowls that are 
desirous of laying in the same nests. 
As to the exact description of nest which would be most suitable for the sitting 
hens, almost every poultry keeper has some favourite arrangement of his own ; 
and, provided some two or three requisites are complied with, no great harm is 
likely to result from his indulging in it. 
The recess in the unused manger, and the concealed nook in the cart-shed, 
have great attractions to many hens ; and, but for the chance of accident from the 
