Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16
EARLY slTTERs.


Observations Made and Reported Upon ~
E the Ottawa Experimcnt Station.
Last seasons observations made at the
Ottawa station. where there is demand
for sitters in the early Matching season,
have been reported upon. It was no
ticed the sitting varieties were unusually
tardy in becoming broody. In the case
Of the farm fowls the majority of the
mixed breeds kept for sitters did not he
come broody at any period of the season,
Ind the thoroughbred Buff Cochins had
to be used as early sitters. The first hen
to be put on eggs was colored Dorking
On the Goth of March, followed by two
Buff hens on the 9th of April and four
others on the16th, ED, 25th and 2eth of
the same month consecutively.
In the next month Buff Cochins, with
8 Brahmas, 6 Plymouth Rocks, Black r
Russian, 2 Wyandottes and 8 mixed
breeds were used as sitters. It will be
seen that of the total number of sitters
three only We're not thoroughbreds Apart
from their fair laying qualities the Buff
Cochins, in two successive seasons, have
proved invaluable as early and reliable
sitters. Had their services not been re-
quired for Matching out chickens they
would have been broken up and made to
lay again. For an early sitter, when it
can be had a light hen is to be preferred,
for at that time eggshells are apt to be
| thinner than at later date.
At this station, while the chickens were
l., 4aI,s I.
were not disturbed. This is most impor-
| tant, for if the sitters are disturbed after
the eggs are "pipped' the young chicks
| just coming into the world are apt to be
chilled. If the hen is irritated or fright
ened, she is likely to become restless and
crush the young ones to death. After
the chickens were Matched the broken
eggshells were removed to make the nest
more comfortable. But this should not
be attempted by any but an old hand.
1t is best to leave the hen alone if she is
reliable sitter.
Previous to being put into the coop
with her brood the hen was fed and al
lowed to drink apart from the chicks,
otherwise she would have greedily eaten
up the dainty food intended for the ten
der youngsters. 1t must be remembered
that for two or three days or nights the
careful mother has not left her nest, for
/ had she done so while the chickens were
Matching Except in very warm weather)
there would have been no chicks. AS
result she is SO hungry and thirsty that
she will voraciously eat and drink what
is placed near her.
Occasionally it happens that a hen viii
become SO nervous or excited at the
''peeping" of the chicks in their efforts
to break out Of the shell that she will
trample them to death. Such hen
should be marked and not set on eggs
again, as she is not reliable. One case
occurred in which the hen was discover
ed eating the eggshells before the chicks
were properly disengaged from them,
the result being the loss of four chick
ems. A spare sitter was fortunately at
hand and the remaining half Matched
eggs were at once placed under her and
the lives Of the chickens saved. After be-
ing Matched the chicks We're allowed to
remain under the hens for 18 or "a hours
A until thoroughly dried. With the moth
ers they were then placed in coops out
side in the sunshine If Matched before
" the grass had grown, they were kept in
doors, the bottom of the coop being COW
cred with sand. The dry board floor will
soon have used the little ones up-liter-
ally put them off their legs.