The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-22
THE MATCHING SEASON.


r. c., of Beverly, N. j., writes: Ex-
perience and observation have shown
me that eggs laid in February and
March produces stronger and better
chickens than those laid in the later
months. A careful attendant upon
fowls, who cultivates their friendship
and confidence, need not wait for mild
weather to set Matching hens. When
a hen has become thoroughly warm on
her nest she can be taken from the gem
eral coop to the covered shed, close
room or warm cellar, where the eggs
will not suffer from cold or the hen be
disturbed by others crowding on her
nest My plan is to prepare box-nest
in o well lighted cellar, in an nnfre-
quented corner, and after putting in it
thirteen or fifteen eggs, according to
the size of the hen, to 60 at dusk and
carry her carefully to her new nest. |
have found that the determination to
hatch is so strong that in the dark,
feeling the eggs under them-even pull
lets, Matching for the first time-they
will not leave the new nest, Gin the
dark they don't know where to go, and
quietly sit on it, and as the next day
they have leisure to survey their new
surroundings and are content A dish
of whole corn one of fresh water and
pile of ashes to dust in are all they re-
ouire. After she has set" for five or
ten days,it is we'll to inspect the nest
to remove any impurities, and as the
incubating heat is generally too dry in
housed nests, it is well to dampen the
eggs occasionally with moist brush or
soft rag. When the chickens appear
my custom is to remove them as fast rs
thoroughly dried to basket or box,
covered and kept warm, and not to feed
them for twenty-four hours, and then to
offer the chicks fine gravel and hard
boiled egg. When the hen is taken off
she should be creased with lard on
head, legs, feet, and under her wings,
so as to kill the creepers which almost
invariably appear and endanger the
brood. As young chickens can only
live in the light and air, care must be
taken to afford them the advantage of
the same, except when too cold. Many
suggest tight dark box, only opened
on good days, or at feeding time; but
any place where they can scratch and
keep clean, and not freeze, will suffice
until the Spring fairly opens. Pullets
Matched in March will commence lay
ing in the following October, and the
young cockerels readily sell in June at
50 to SO pair. OF course this process
cannot be adopted with the pure non
Matching hens, but | have found it
work we'll with halfbreeds and common
hens. 1t is my rule always to have
young stag" cock in case of accident
to or insuficiently of the cold rooster, :"
who ought not to run beyond his third
year. And | have found that the
"young fellows" suffer less from cold
and are more active and efficient than
the old ones, who get frost-nipped in
comb, feet, &c This is especially true
of the Dorking, Houdan, and Leghorn
breeds, and is worthy of consideration.
I have found Hamburg, or Span
ish or Leghorn rooster and Bramah, or
Cochin, or Dorking hen make an excel
lent cross for laying, eating, Or endur
ance, and with few common fowls
for Matching purposes, will answer
every demand. My receipts of eggs
from the chicken-house are now four
teen per day from thirty-five hens, and
| have now in my cellar three TRANS
PLANTED hens Matching, not far from
the furnace, and it is no trouble to pre-
vent dirt or stencil.