The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-07-11

cess of incubation. This is owing
partly to the thinness of the shells and
partly to the carelessness of the hen.
OF all sitters, the Brahmas are the most
tractable. They are persistent, and
when once their inclination is directed
towards this point, they are easily re-
moved to some more convenient place.
A nest for sitter should be construct
ed for that purpose, and be on differ
cut plan from that of the layers. Cen
orally when a layer is seeking nest,
she manifests desire to look up. Her
ideas are high. She looks at the wood
pile. and views well all the localities
about the buildings. Many of the small
er breeds, especially the sitting varie-
ties. 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 small dry
goods 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 al
lowed to come off for the first time or
two, she should be watched, that she
may return after a reasonable length of
time. Frequently she will go back to
the old nest when first commencing 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 precau-
ton 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
deep 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 sitting
there will always be one or two that will
prove bad. The hen should be accus-
toned 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 wealth
er, hatch better and produce stronger
chicks, but they are more subject to the
attacks of night-prowling vermin. In
order that every thing should work to-
gether for the good being of the coming
chickens, the mother should be thor
oughly 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 go straight for
ward and make rapid growths. Both
the mother and the young brood will be
more quiet, and larger percentage
will be raised. Where a regular bust
ness is carried on it is well to have all
the sitters down at one time, that the
chicks may be of an age. They are less
trouble, particularly when early (and to
be profitable they should be early land,
if we devote our time to the business, it
is better to tend a large flock.
believe that one great cause of dis
eases among young chicks arises from
the want of a proper mother. They re-
quire an amount of animal heat more
than a small hen can impart. 1t is not
the amount of feathers, but the large,
capacious, roomy body and breast that
gives warmth and strength, and the
weak little things require it on the back.
In this respect, the moderately sized
Light Brahmas excel; not only for their
own chicks, but for those less in size
and more slender in nature when just
Matched. Newly Matched chicks should
remain on the nest at least Sc hours, and
better As, and be fed thereon, allowing
the hen to go off for little exercise and
the relief of nature. 1t is an error, in
early spring weather, to remove chicks
from the nest too soon. The old nest is
warm, and new quarters are apt to give
them a 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
without so much as touch of the gapes;
but, as has been stated before, it re-
quires vigilance. Roup is perhaps one
of thewOrst diseases that pOultry-breed-
ers have to contend with, and one for
which there is no immediate cure for
the afflicted birds. 1t is disorder that
has originated among fancy poultry
breeders, and will ever hang to them so
long as they are needless of the welfare
of their birds. There are several diff
ferent phases of it; some of them can
be remedied, and others can not. Some
birds are afflicted from the shell up with
soreness about the head, eyes and throat.
The comb and wattles turn dark pur
pie, and any severe start or sudden ex-
ercise often causes instant death. 1t is
idle to admit the idea that it is conta-
gious, although birds subject to the same
treatment and exposure will be affected
alike to a greater or less degree, accord
inn To the constitution of the bird -