INCUBATION OF HENS’ EGGS. 
Harry M. Lam on, 
Senior Poultryman, Animal Husbandry Division.' 
Selection of eggs for hatching 
Nests for sitting hens. 
How to set a hen. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
3 
3 
4 
Care of the sitting hen 
Method of testing eggs 
Hatching. 
Page. 
5 
6 
8 
SELECTION OF EGGS FOR HATCHING. 
F ERTILE EGGS from vigorous breeding stock are necessary in 
order to obtain good hatches. The best eggs for hatching are 
obtained from stock which is properly mated and managed. Free 
range for the breeders is most desirable for the production of fertile 
eggs with vigorous germs, and, if possible, members of poultry clubs 
should give their breeders free range rather than keep them yarded. 
Eggs that are abnormally small and poorly shaped should not be 
used for incubation; neither should eggs that have thin or very 
porous shells. If possible, eggs should be set when fresh, and it is 
never advisable to use for hatching eggs that are more than two 
weeks old. One of the quickest ways to obtain uniformity in the 
offspring is to select uniformly good-sized eggs of the same color. 
Dirty eggs or those badly soiled should not be used. Those slightly 
soiled, however, may be cleaned by rubbing lightly with a damp 
cloth, care being taken not to rub off any more of the natural bloom 
of the egg than is necessary. 
In freezing weather eggs for hatching should be collected two or 
three times a day so as to prevent their being chilled. Broody 
hens allowed to sit on eggs in the nest for any considerable time are 
apt to hurt the hatching qualities of the eggs by causing partial 
incubation. Neither a hen nor an incubator will hatch strong chicks 
from eggs containing weak germs or from those which have not 
received proper care. 
NESTS FOR SITTING HENS. 
When only a few hens are to be set, boys and girls will not find it 
necessary to provide separate quarters for the sitting hens. Of the 
various styles of nests for sitting hens the-following is recommended: 
The nests should be 15 inches square, 15 inches high in back and 
sides, and with a board 6 inches high in front to prevent the nesting 
material from falling out. 
Before placing the nesting material in the nest proper it is well 
to put from 3 to 4 inches of damp earth or a piece of grass sod in the 
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