The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-07-11
THE HEN AND HER NEST.

The expression "D0n't know en-
ough TO set hcnl," though used in
derisiou, points TO (. task that is not
fully understood. ,For years we had
our journals full 0f The question of
moisture for our igicubalors--too much
moisture or too lithlc moisture; then the
moisture gauge TO. grade the supply un-
Til some wise heacl discovered that the
hen which, hid herNIcst i'm the hay.mow
brought forth quito as many chickens
as her sister that Md her nest on the
ground under the barn. So it was con
cludcd that the moisture must come
from the air, and to-day we have the
most successful non-moistnre machine.
There Is one other fact td be learned
from the hidden nest: Usually the
hen will lay not to exceed four eggs
per week; she hides her nest aid laws
out her litter or supply as may be,
from twelve to sixteen eggs. | have
seen the hidden nest produce seventeen
chicks, allowing four eggs per week.
some OF these eggs were four weeks
old when incubation began, showing
how the vitality will last under natural
treatment OF the hen. But, under the
best, some of them were full three
weeks old when incubation began.
Here is lesson as to how long the
vitality will last prior to incubation.
To test this fact, last season had II
basket of l3 Leghorn eggs sent me;
without unpacking / placed them in
the cellar, where they stayed not dis
turbed or turned for four weeks; they
=, L., l
eight or ten chicks.
these questions cannot be theorized
on; prior to this test ] held to the
opinion that eggs three weeks old
would be absolutely certain not to
hatch TIE question of the hidden
nest led to the other test, the result Of
which will prompt me to go fartbcr
with the experiment this season. ii
may be that another trial will prove
less successiul; then again, | will be
uncertain. AT this time l believe there
is difference in the length of the vitali.
ty of the eggs from different nocks
| Strong, vigorous fowls will give more
lasting vitality than over-kept and
pampcred ones.
When the hen selects her nest tC
lllNiC away 'i'l SSSo, oIlC luSuIldDlI
chooses one with solid foundation sc
that the eggs may be guaranteed from
beneath from climate changes. Tho
turkey or guinea hen, wilder by nature
usually selects some secluded spot or
the ground that has some natural pro
lection. In thus selecting, they have
help from the natural surroundings tt
hold the regular heat from their bodies
within the nest. Some tell us that th,
natural moisture from the ground helps
in the progress Of incubation. This
DO not deny. But, if true, why shoult
the hen in the top Of hay NOW dt
equally well ? Pigeon eggs hatch wei
in the very warmes: weather in the dry
hot upper loft of barn If The
ground is necessary for success, VIII
these two differences, as we see them
The question evidently has not We
been settled.
We know that good results com
from our incubators, il a regular ant
even heat of the proper temperature is
maintained. We also know that if al
lowed to chill, the result is bad. Th,
incubator, we know, will hatch ever,
good fertile or hatchabc egg, providin.
the proper degree of heat is maintain
ed. We also know that at times th,
hen does not hatch all of the so-callet
ha;clablc eggs. Chicks dead IN tn
shell arc quite common occurrcnc,
with the hen. There must be som,
good reason for this.
Providing we ccccpt the theory 0
the hidden nest, we feel assured tha
eggs three weeks old should hatcl
reasonably well. The moisture or n,
moisture question being settled as tt
the incubator, we should not hesitate
to accept the proposition that tn,
nest hidden away in the NOW mus
gain its moisture fYom the air, whicl
does away with the necessity of maxim.
the nest on the ground. After du,
consideration of these facts, am lee
to believe that we must find som
other reason why cESs that shoult
hatch under hen, do not hatch. w,
must try some new explanation tha
may lead US to discover the cause 0
the dead-inthcshell chicks under tn
hen.