Connecticut western news., 1881-05-11
FARM AND GARDEN.
Hints About Poultry.


 It has been so fearfully cold and stormy so far this year that but compa ratively few chicks have as yet found existence in this world of uncertainty and many breeders have in consequence been studying, inferring, or wondering what tho issue of their pens will amount to.
 The first important consideration after the mating is, of course, how the eggs will hatch !? In this as in every thing of importance, the greatest sue. cess is only attainable through the strictest attention to every one of the many stages and details that must be gone through with to bring forth the dormant life, few of which details we will consider briefly
 How many hens are allowable to q male bird? Anywhere from one to twenty, and even more for Asiatics, ac. cording to the ability of the male.
 intend to speak of Asiatics particu- larly, as my experience for the last nine years has been altogether with Light Brahmas, and there is so little differ ence in the general nature of the sev- eral breeds of Asiatics that experience with one can be proftably applied to all.
 l have heard and seen many times that twelve hens should be the maxi mum number to be placed in charge of an Asiatic male, and yet from my own observations this is not so. I have known over twenty hens to run with but one Qight Brahma) cockerel, and scarcely an egg miss matching. This is an exception, of course. The question is not whether the result could have been bettered had there been but twelve hens, because there is no doubt that it could not. But would the result have been as satisfactory with any very material decrease in the number of hens?
 The best results, I think, are attainable from mating a cockerel with good, large framed, strong and active hens, not these fat logy things, too lazy to eat, because the hens are full matured, stronger and tougher than bullets, and can stand the attention of cockerel, when a bullet would be lacerated and broken down blythe weight of cock.
 A very important point, touching the fertility of eggs, is in the feeding. Do not feed your hens too much fattening food. Keep them in good condition, but not fat. The males can, and should have little more given them, because their continual care and watchfulness over their lady companions gives them but little time to forage. But make your hens work for their daily bread, and make them anxious enough for tit bit to run for it. When they become at all indifferent stop. With good run 8 very little feeding will suffice.
 In matching, there is no doubt that an incubator properly handled is surer and much more convenient than hens, but even in this day of advanced knowledge and scientific achievements many yet stick to old biddy," for the want of something better, or the money to get it with, which amounts to the same thing, and they sometimes manage to have pretty good luck if they work it right.
 This time of year nest of green ma- nure, covered with two or three inches of soft, fine straw, of such dimensions that the hen is not crowded, and with not more than II to 13 eggs for a large hen, think will result favorably, if the breeder, shipper, yourself and the hen will attend strictly to business, and no unforeseen drawback..or accident occurs, which unfortunately is often the case.
 In packing eggs for matching, have found hay chaff to answer the purpose as well as anything have ever seen, and decidedly preferable to many arti- cles used. It will pack solid, yet there is little "give" ;" or spring to it that ir,- sures the safety of the eggs against any fall or sudden jar. Other advantages to it's credit are light weight, cheapness, and the convenience of obtaining it.
 A detailed description of the manner of packing eggs would be unnecessary, as it has been set forth so many times before that all must be acquainted with it by this time.