Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-01
WISDOM OF THE HEN.
Something More Than Sitting Reauf
ed to Hatch Ont the Ern

Something More Than Sitting Requir-
| ed to Hatch Out the EGG.
| From the New York Sum-
fresh egg has the yolk perfectly bal
anced in the middle of the white. Unless II
| remains thus balanced the chances are de-
| cldediy against its Matching. Brooding hens
understand that. When filing the nest a
| men 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 a
shady nest-spot. But in winter a nest Is
often made where the fullest sunshine
streams into 1t.
Brooding is throughout full of quaint sur
prises Eggs will hatch if kept at blood
heat-9S degrees. But they hatch more GER
ta4hiy and turn out stronger chicks If the
temperature IS a degree higher. Just
now II Is done nobody knows. but mother
mems some way contrive to raise the normal
neat OF their bodies to the requisite pitch.
Further. they strip the whole breast of
1eathers, so the eggs may have the benefit
or fu.l heat. Twice day they turn over
every egg IN the nest, cuddling them sepa-
rately up underneath their beaks, making
little soft half fretful chuckling noises the
while. 81
Hens are most uncalculating egg stealers.
All eggs in sight will be drawn into the
nest, though the stolen eggs may crowd out
those legitmately there. Still, in a way,
mems 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 uncovered
eggs, and drawing them underneath the
breast.
A hen of average size cannot proftably
cover more than fifteen eggs. In cold wealth
er thirteen is a better limit, although in mid
summer the same hen might brood and
horn oh fxx.n, e. ~ r. ~
checked instinct Of egg.stealing with hens
is apt to result III a hest full of spoiled
eggs, with maybe one d. two feeble chicks
Twenty-four hours of brooding makes
Sometimes In wariS weather there is the
least reddish tinge beside the whit;sh clot
IN which len the germ lies. After thirty-six
Rery re eae drop
has spread to vefns aid arteries. At the
end OF ten days the head Is fairly well
formed though the tftnk is still ragged.
In two weeks the och:ek is recognizable as
chick. and II the shSll envelope is broken
WI VIII culver all through and feebly move the
aead; It has, however, no vestiges Of the
l downy coat II wfHiw ear a little later
The coat forms raSEerafapidly.
The period of Incubation for a chicken Is
twenty-on days. and f6r two days before
leaving the shell tie young fowl is practi
caliy perfect; yet r. wetld not live were the
shell forcibly removed. 1t spends the last
Two Gays gathering vital force to make Its
own way out into tile world. 1t lies snug
w.thln the she'll, the head bent upon the
preast. IN such a position as brings the
beak full against the she'll
me peak is armed with tiny detachable
piece or horn, flint hard, and set upon. he
very TIP OF the upper mandfble. At full
natcn.ng time the chick presses this TRAM
gle against the brittle shell and breaks a
triangular hole in it. possibly a quarter inch
across An hour later the chick, having
turned itself slightly, presses the beak
against new spot and makes fresh
break AS more air comes in the little
creature grows stronger. 1t writhes still
more strong y in its prison, turning always
from ieft to right. In two hours or ten 1t
breaks the shell in two and Slips out into
the nest, wet and weary sprawler.
Egg production varies enormously Al
mems capacity Is about 400 eggs divided
pretty equally through the first three years
Of her existence.