Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-04-30
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Raising Chickens.

|
The Rural Home gives seasonable
article on the subject which we repro
duce:
THE NUMBER OF EGGs TO PUT UNDER
HEN. One of the most important
points to be observed in setting eggs
for Matching, is to correctly proportion
ate the number, taking into considera-
ton the size, and the hen about to sit
upon them. The state of the weather
should also be guide; for a hen
capable of sitting upon or covering
thirteen eggs in the warm days of June
ought not to have more than ten eggs
in the colder spring weather The
great error in setting hens upon more
eggs than they can properly cover is a
cause of very general disappointment.
| We have frequently seen native and
other small breeds set upon thirteen
eggs, when it was perfectly clear that
all of them could not receive an equal
share of heat from their bodies. It is
also certain that hen can not hatch
out chickens from those eggs which
she can not draw close to her body and
give to them the natural warmth they
require III the process of incubation.
This has been clearly demonstrated to
us; for upon more than one occasion
we placed fifteen eggs under a hen, in
our greed Tor chickens, when we ought
not at any season to have given more
than twelve, or at most thirteen, for
they could not cover them properly,
for the eggs became chilled and non
productive.
The PROPER HENS TO SET.-A game
or crOSs-breed game hen we consider
the best, because they make the very
best OF mothers, and attentive to their
| young however, native hens make very
good mothers. In case we use a game
or small bred hen we should place I'M
der her nine or ten eggs if DOrking
be used eleven are sufficient; a Cochin
or Drama hen we have seen cover, very
well, from thirteen to fifteen eggs.
For fear of accidents we should give
the Asiatics but thirteen eggs. Cochins
and Brahmas have large width of
breast and large amount of fluff and
feather, both features being highly
conducive to successful Matching by
assisting to retain the heat of the body
Of the birds and of the eggs also.
The FERTILITY OF EGGs.-To test
eggs to learn whether they are fertil-
lied and viii hatch it requires very
little trouble. The way to ascertain
unfertile eggs at as early period as
possible is to take them into a room
moderately dark, and hold them be-
tween the eye and candle or lamp. The
eggs under setting hen should be ex,
amined at least as early as the eighth
4 Oh
Ii the egg be fertile, it viii appear
opaque, or dark all over, except per-
haps, small portion toward the top /:
but if it be unimpregnated, it will still
be transluctant, the light passing
through it almost as if new laid. After
some little experience and careful OBJ
servation the fertility of the eggs can
be distinguished atan early period a
practical hand can tell unfertile eggs
even at the fourth day. Should the nnm-
4 Der withdrawn be considerable, four
patches set the same day may be given
to three hens, or even to two, and the
remainder given fresh; and if not, the
fertile eggs will get more heat, and the
brood came out all the stronger.
CLOsE-SETTING HENs.-Tbere are
some hens over anxious about the
chicks within tho shells, whose cry for
deliverance they can distinctivelv
hear and they do not rise from off the
eggs during the process of chipping.
This Is an operation we have continu-
ally observed with hens that are very
successful in Matching, while those
which sat too closely at tie last stages
are those whose excess of kindness has
produced the non or limited, success
IN Matching out good broods. The only
good we have observed arising from
any sprinkling of the eggs with the wa
ter IS from their having received an in
crease and life-saving supply of air
during such process, without which,
IN many instances, the chicks would
either have been suffocated OF glued to
the shell. 49,.
THE PROCESS OF INCUBATIoN.-Th
process Of the incubation Of the chicken
is subject not only curious but inter
eStlng to the student Of nature. It
generally takes tWenty-one days to
/ hatch brood of chickens, although
close setting hen will sometimes hatch
her chicks IN eighteen days, if the
weather is favorable. The expiration
of the time should be carefully Watched
for; not that the chicken requires any
assistance; but, on the contrary, is
much more likely to prove an injury
than a benefit. 4 healthy chick will
perform all that is required to free it
from the shell. It is wonderful the
power they possess while relied up in
so apparently helpless mass the
head, however, that makes the most
exertion to save itself, is placed 50 as
to leave room for reaction, and to turn
round, and thus to peck a circle, and
breaks around the large or butt end of
the shell, admitting the air by degrees,
until 1t becomes gradually prepared to
extricate itself. A rash attempt to help
them by breaking the shell, more par
ticuiarly in downward direction. to-
ward the smaller end, is frequently fol-
lowed by loss of blood which can i'll
be spared, and death ensues.
PLACING AND CHANGING NESTS, Ere
! We place the nest In warm, sheltered
place, and lave fresh food and water
near at hand SO that the hen can help
herself whenever, she is so inclined.
Should the nest become dirty, change
1t, or even wash the eggs in tepid wa
ter. AS fast as the chickens break the
shell, place them in q basket of cotton
wool by the fire, TO avoid the danger of
the mothers crushing them while they
are HELPLESS. more eSneciaItv is this tho