The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-04-27
WISDOM OF THE HEN.
Required to Change an Egg In
to n Little Chicken.

A fresh egg has the yolk perfectly
balanced in the middle of the white.
Unless it remains thus balanced the
chances are decidedly against its hatch
ing. Brooding hens understand that.
When filing the nest hen turns over
all the eggs in it before she quits 1t
after laying a new one.
She knows, too, that in hot weather
the sun will addle her eggs, so she
chooses shady nesting spot. But in
winter a nest is often made where the
fullest sunshine streams into it.
Brooding Is throughout full CT
quaint surprises. Eggs will hatch il
kept at blood heat-es degrees. But
they hatch more certainly and turn out
stronger chicks II the temperature is
a degree or so higher. just how 1t is
done nobody knows, but mother hens
some way contrive TO raise the normal
pitch. Further, they strip the whole
breast of feathers, so the eggs may
nave the benefit OF full heat. Twice a
day they turn over every egg in the
nest, cuddling them separately up un-
derneath their beaks, making little
soft half-fretful chuckling noises the
while.
Hens are most uncalculating egg
stealers. All eggs in sight will be
drawn into the nest, though the stolen
eggs may crowd out those legitimately
there. Still, in way hens take stock
OF what they brood. With few eggs
they sit prim, with trinity folded wings.
With too many they sprawl all over the
nest, wings loose enough to let light
between the feathers, and frequently
turn themselves about reaching for un-
covered eggs, and drawing them under
meath the breast.
A hen of average size cannot profit
ably cover more than IS eggs. In cold
weather 10 is better limit. although
In midsummer the same hen might
brood and hatch 20. Left to themselves,
the unchecked instinct OF egg stealing
with hens is apt TO result in nest full
OF spoiled eggs, with maybe one or two
feeble chicks.
Twenty -fourhours OF brooding makes
hardly perceptibel change in an egg.
Sometimes in warm weather there is
the least reddish tinge beside the
whitish clot in which the germ lies.
After SO hours the clot shows a we'll
defined drop of very red blood. In two
days the blood drop has spread to veins
and arteries. At the end of ten days
tho head is fairly well formed, though
the trunk is still ragged. In two weeks
the chick is recognizable as a chick,
and IL the shell envelope is broken viii
culver all through and feebly move the
head. 1t has. however, no yestiges OF
the fine down coat il viii wear little
later. The coat forms rather rapidly.
The period of incubation for chick
en- Is 21 days, and for two days before
leaving the shell the young fowl is prac.
tically perfect. Yet it would not live
were the shell forcibly removed. II
spends the last two days gathering
vital force to make its own way out
into the world. 1t lies snug within the
shell, the head bent upon the breast, in
such position as brings the beak full
against the shell.
The beak is armed with tiny de.
fachable piece of horn, hint-hard and
set upon the very tip of the upper
mandible. At fun hatching time the
chick presses this triangle against the
brittle shell and makes a hole IN
II. possibly a quarter inch across. An
hour later the chick, having turned IL
self slightly, presses the beak against
. new spot and makes fresh break
As more air comes in the little creature
grows stronger. It writhes still more
strongly in it's prison. turning always
from left to right. In two hours OF
ten It breaks the shsslin two and slips
out into the nest. q wet and weary
sprawler
Egg production varies enormously
A hens capacity is about 400 eggs. d.
vided pretty equally through the FIRST
three yssrs Of her existepce.--N. Y
Sun