FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE 
IMPREGNATION OF EGGS. 
Westchester, July 6th, 1874. 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal. 
Bear Sir: In answer to Mr. Bicknell’s article on the 
“ Impregnation of Eggs,” I would say in the first place that 
more than one good cock to twenty-five hens is a nuisance. 
They should be put together in the fall, and by the time 
spring comes the hens will be all impregnated, and the act 
once performed is sufficient. 
I never set an egg without examining them before a 
strong light, and out of a basket of ten dozen I do not find 
more than two not impregnated, and these will be found to 
have no air-chamber at the large end. This is easily tested 
by breaking and examining carefully. At the small end of 
the yolk will be found a white substance, which is the life- 
principle of the hen ; but there will be none at the other end, 
which would be the cock’s. But if the air-chamber can be 
seen, they are impregnated. It is very important not to set 
any hen until she has positively laid her last egg. The first 
few days being the most important time when she should sit 
closely and be kept quiet, as the small blood-veins are form- 
ing, and they are easily broken by the hen leaving the nest; 
a slight jar of the eggs at this time will destroy their vital- 
ity. I have often proved this by marking eggs that have 
struck together. This accounts for one of Mr. B.’s hens 
hatching so badly, and the other the reverse. If the hen is 
not set until well ready, she will not leave the nest for a 
week, when the danger will be over. She will not turn the 
eggs during this time, as she will know they will not need it. 
According to the above system I set eggs arid hatch chicks 
with perfect success. I have had from thirty to sixty hens 
and only two cocks since March 28th. I have had but one 
cock to twenty-four hens. One tread is sufficient for a sit- 
ting. Wm. J. Pyle. 
WHITE FOWLS. 
Mr. Editor : I quote from Fanciers’ Journal , No. 32, page 
505, the following : 
II It is said that the pure white breeds of poultry possess 
more delicate constitutions while young, and are, therefore, 
more difficult to raise successfully then those of darker 
colors.” 
The above statement is not in accordance with my ex- 
perience. I find the Asiatics, including White Cochins, 
much more hardy than most other varieties, yet there are 
some kinds that can be reared with equal success. With me 
the White Cochins prove to be just as hardy as Dark 
Brahmas or Buff Cochins, and White Leghorns do not fall 
behind, save when exposed to weather so cold as to freeze 
their combs. If cleanliness is observed, I find no trouble 
with any variety, when given free range, and not over- 
crowded in their roosting-places ; yet the White Leghorns 
will brave hardships far better than many of the colored va- 
rieties. Dorkings are justly considered tender fowls to raise 
under difficulties ; but I have been far more successful with 
the white than with the gray variety when reared together 
under unfavorable circumstances. I believe it is a fact that 
all old breeders have had their prospects blasted by the ter- 
rible scourge — roup. Years agone I certainly belonged to 
that class. I have often watched my little flocks while they 
were maturing, and become both discouraged and disgusted 
at the sickening sight. Under those very circumstances I 
have bred White Cochins and White Leghorns with com- 
parative success when many of the colored fowls would droop 
fc>33 
and die with the same care. I find, too, from a long experi- 
ence in breeding various kinds of ducks, that the Aylesbury 
(which is pure white) is just as hardy as the Bouen or 
Cayuga ; in fact, I can see no difference in that respect. I 
do not consider white fowls any more hardy than colored 
ones, but merely wish to show that color has nothing to do 
with it. White fowls should be rejected by those whose ac- 
commodations will not admit of a proper chance for cleanli- 
ness, but not for fear of tender constitutions. 
J. Y. Bicknell. 
August 10tl), 1874. 
EGGS BURSTING. 
I believe that this complaint, to which Mr. Morton refers, 
usually occurs in hot weather in cases where the hen, having 
a great amount of heat in her body, sits very steadily on a 
dry nest in closely confined air. The egg thus becomes par- 
tially cooked (that is, very “rarely done”), so that the 
pores become closed, then the egg spoils very quickly. 
The preventive is to use moist earth for a nest and keep 
the eggs clean. If the hen has laid her litter out as she 
should be allowed to do before beginning incubation, and 
kept free from disturbance, she will sit very steadily the first 
week, which is the most critical period for the embryo chick, 
after which time the eggs should have fresh air daily, and 
if not set on earth, which should be renewed at least twice, 
let the eggs be sprinkled occasionally and washed if neces- 
sary, taking care to handle gently. With these precautions 
success is quite certain. 
I once tried to hatch eggs under the stove, but the heat 
was too dry, and one of them burst after ten days. Being 
wrapped in cotton, the contents of the egg flew about the 
room with bits of cotton sticking here and there, and the 
smell was so offensive that my wife vetoed another trial. 
They can be hatched, however, on a rush-bottom chair, by 
covering them with cotton. Then place underneath the 
chair a small lamp; keep the heat uniform, and inclose the 
legs of the chair with something to keep in the heat; after 
one week, turn the eggs about every other day and moisten 
the cotton. They will hatch ; but who will be the mother? 
W. J. Pyle. 
AESTHETIC DUCKS. 
A writer in “ Land and Water ” gives some curious in- 
stances of the sensibility of ducks to colors and musical 
sounds. He once had in his garden a border of China asters 
of the most brilliant colors. The ducks would congregate 
round these and lie there for hours. They never pecked at 
them as if they found snails or slugs amongst them. They 
appeared simply gazing at them, as if attracted by the gay 
colors. Another time he had a large clump of very brilliant 
violet flowers, which by their brightness shone out from the 
rest of the border. This clump was like a magnet to the 
ducks ; some of them were always around it. One evening 
the writer had a party of friends. It was summer-time, 
and the doors of the sitting-room were open to the lawn. 
One of the company commenced playing on the piano. No 
sooner was there a pause in the music than two ducks, which 
had by some means got into the room, rose from under a 
chair and waddled all over the apartment, quacking loudly. 
On the music commencing again, the ducks crouched down, 
perfectly silent while it continued. The experiment was 
made several times, with the same result. That it was not 
surprise or fear which induced this behavior was afterwards 
