East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-05-06
How 10 Set n Hen and How Ia Pre-
serve Eggs.


Ireland like China and France, is
great country for Matching chickens, CON
seqaently good practical information on
this subject should be expected from such
a source. The following is from the
Irish Country Gentleman, by A. Hender-
son When hen of any description is
to be set with eggs, the place ought to
be well cleaned out, and a nest made Of
short clean straw. Some give eleven
eggs, others thirteen, aud even more, ac-
cording TO the size of the hen, yet in
most cases she will manage eleven eggs
best but let the lot consist Of an odd
number, aud be all about the middle size.
Carefully examine every egg, by holding
it up betwiXt you and the sun or candle,
so that the tread, so-called, if present,
may be seen, if not visible, the egg must
be rejected; reject also those that have a
circular flaw, which is indicative of a
double yolk. Should a given number Of
cockerels only be wanted, the male and
female are known by examining the egg
in the same way; such as have "tread"
or vacuum directly on the top of the egg
will be a cockerel, and those on the side
Of the top, pulets. The hen should be
provided with oats and water when
Matching, with liberty to leave the eggs
little, if inclined. If she becomes at
fected with lice, &c, little -four of
birthstone may be shaken upon both her
aud the nest. AS hen brings forth the
young of her own species in three weeks,
or twenty one days, she must be watched
regularly to see if all goes on right, as
sometimes the young require little as
sistance to get out of the shell; this,
however, is seldom necessary, and in nine
cases out Of ten it is better to let nature
take its course; but the shell that the
young have left ought to be instantly re-
moved, as also any visible rotten eggs,
which will make watery tumble when
shaken. A great deal of such trouble
may be saved by being particular at the
time of setting, when the eggs must be
as equal in age as possible, and the newer
laid the better, as such arc more certain
The difference in price of eggs at one
period is so great as to make 1t advisable
TO keep them as fresh as possible; imme-
diately when laid, rub them all over with
fresh butter, then pack them into a cask
in regular layers, with the round ends
uppermost, and fill up all the vacancies
with wood ashes, covering the layers
about two inches deep with the ashes
they will come out as fresh six months
after as when newly laid; or the crevices
may be filed up with lime water; but
must in this case be used Immediately
when taken from the cask. The crevices
are sometimes filled up with the following
mixture, viz: To five quarts of cold
water add one pound Of salt and one
ounce of salt peter; boil together for
about twenty-five minutes, and when
nearly cold, add four table spoonsful Of
pounded quicklime; let it stand three
days, stirring it twice day When n
hen is fond of hatching, if not wanted for
that purpose, found change of resi-
dence the best cure. Moulting, with its
effects, generally lasts about two months,
sometimes more, and if hen is young,
less. When chickens come first out, |
feed for ten days with soaked oatmeal
and hard boiled eggs, afterwards greats
hulled oats; all kinds of soft meat should
be avoided at this age; but plenty of
clean water, which should constantly
stand before them, placed in such man
ner that the chickens cannot get in to it.
Fountains are now to be had anywhere,
suitable for that purpose, or bowl may
be turned over in the middle of pan of
water. When rearing chickens never let
them out too soon in the morning; avoid
wet grass and rainy days, which gener-
ally bring on all diseases which gallina-
ceous poultry are subject to. 1t will be
found that feeding poultry with the very
best of oats is quite preferable. | have,
on several occasions, had two birds from
double-yolked Spanish eggs; some arrived
at maturity and laid well, but the birds
so produced are generally weak, and i'll
to rear; it is system which ought not
to be attempted, at least with view of
profit.