The Portland daily press., 1878-05-13
Management of Chickens

Many complain of breakage in eggs by Law.
ing hens while under the process OF incuba-
ton. This is owing partly to the thinness OF
the shells and partly to the carelessness of
the hen. OF all sitters, the Brahmans are the
most tractable. They are persistent, and
when once their inclination is directed to-
wards this point, they are easily remoued to
some more convenient place. A nest for the
sitter should be constructed for that purpose,
and be on different plan from that for the
layers. Generally when layer is seeking a
nest, she manfests desire to look up. Her
ideas are high. She looks at the wood pile
and views well all the localities about the
building. Many of the smaller breeds, es-
pecially the sitting varieties, have this mania
for nest hunting, particularly when running
at large. Nests intended for sitters alone
should be made on the ground, that the hen
may walk off and on, A smyll drygoods box
placed on the side is good for this purpose.
The hen should be fastened thereon until she
is entirely accustomed to the change. When
allowed to come off for the first time, she
should be watched, that she may return after
a reasonable length of time. Frequently she
will 60 back to the cd nest where she first
commenced to sit. In that case she must be
removed. With little patience, after time
or two she will become entirely reconciled,
and in this manner, taking the precaution of
breaking her on eggs that are of small value,
there will be found less breakage of good eggs,
She should be protected from the annoyance
of layers.
The nest for a sitter should not be so deem
or dishing that the eggs all roll in the middle
and crowd one another. Give the hen as
many eggs as she can cover comfortably and
no more. A good sized Brahma will manage
fifteen small eggs very well, and it is better
to give her that number; in each sittin o
there will always be one or two that will
prove bad. The hen should be accustomed
to handling, that her eggs may be seen to
and counted each day or two, to be certain
that they are all right. Eggs set on the
ground in warm weather hatch better and
subject to the attacks of night-prowling YER
min. In order that everything should work
together for the good being of the coming
chickens, the mother should be thorouohly
cleaned of vermin, The hen will sit better,
be less uneasy, and the young chicks when
they come from the shell will be free from
this formidable pest and be ready to 90
straight forward and make rapid growths.
Both the mother and the young brood will
be more quiet, and larger percentage will
be raised. Where regular business is car
ried on it is we'll to have all the sitters down
at one time, that the chicks may be of an
age. They are less trouble, particularly
when early land to be profitable they should
be early), and if we devote our time to the
business it is better to tend large flock.
believe that one great cause of diseases
among young chicks arises from the want of a
proper mother. They require an amount of
animal heat more than small hen can i'm
part. 1t is not the amount of feathers, but the
large, capacious, roomy body and breast that
gives warmth and strength, and the weak lit
tie things require it on the back. In this res
pect, the moderately-sized Light Brahmas ex-
eel; not only for their own chicks, but for those
less in size and more slender in nature when
just Matched. Newly-hatched chicks should re-
main on the nest at least SO hours and be tier
AS, and be ted thereon, allowing the hen to 90
off for little exercise and the relief of nature
1t is an error, in early spring weather, TO re &.
move chicks from the nest too soon. The old
nest is warm, and new quarters are apt to
give them chill. Exercise is not the first
thing they require, although the old hen often
looks at it in this light.
With due care, chicks may be raised with
out so much as a touch of the gapes; but as
has been stated before, it requires vigilance,
Roup is probably one of the worst diseases
that poultry breeders have to contend with.
and one for which there is no immediate cure
for the afflicted birds. 1t is disorder that
has originated with fancy poultry breeders,
and will ever hang to them so long as they
are needless of the welfare of their birds.
There are several different phases of it; some
OF them can be remedied, and others cannot.
Some birds are afflicted from the shell up
with soreness about the head, eyes and throat.
The comb and wattles turn a dark purple,
and any sudden start or severe exercise often
causes instant death. 1t Is idle to admit the
idea that it is contagious, although birds SUBJ
Ject to the same treatment and exposure will
be affected alike to greater or less degree,
according to the constitution of the bid
Country Gentleman.