The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-02-05

In this number / shall take up the
subject Of incubation, as the time is at
hand when hens must be set, II spring
chickens are desired.
The following lamentable averages for
the United States are correct: eggs
incubated to ] chick raised TO maturity;
q to from the hatch 20 the hatch
et." This, to my mind, shows crimi-
nal negligence.
The basal trouble, undoubtedly, lies
in the condition Of the breeding fowls,
and is due to the fact that they are
badly inbred, vary in age from SIX
months to ten years, and are cared for
with deplorabe lack Of intelligence.
II fowls are to thrive and be productive
new blood must be introduced every
other year. Personally, l advocate as
strongly as | know how, getting few
pure bred fowls and replacing the mon
grels, or at least pure bred males, and
grading the flock up. II this cannot
be afforded males must be exchanged
with a neighbor; il will help both par
ties. The Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Animals should consider
this offence against natural law crime.
Allow no hen over years old to stay
10 your poultry yard, see that they
have a snfliciency Of grain, meat and
bulky vegetable foods and your eggs
will hatch strong chicks that with
good care, will defy disease and grow
like weeds
To any one who raises more than 200
chicks year, an incubator and brood
er will save time, money and chickens.
There are several good machines that
do excellent work. These save labor
and permit a few hens to DO the maxi
mum amount Of work. A good sitter
Is better than an incubator but a good
incubator is superior TO the average
sitter. An incubator does its work
whenever called upon, does not break
eggs, and is under absolute control.
A good brooder serves its purpose bet
ter than the best Of mOther-hens. In
it so to 100 chicks can be raised with
the care given one hen and her brood,
and the control is by human intelli-
gence instead Of a hens whims. After
weeks training you can rest easy
during the worst storm, knowing that
the chicks are safe at home.
Almost as full success can be attain
ed, however, with the hen as sitter and
mother, if due attention is given. The
early sitter should have a roomy box
nest, the nest proper being made Of an
inverted sod, followed out aud covered
with soft hay. Dust over this, gener-
ously, some good insect powder at the
first, and again few days before the
hatch is to come of. The front should
be Slated and 50 arranged that it can
be closed. Select - TO 10 medium
sized, well shaped eggs, not over three
weeks old, discarding all with ridges,
notified shells, or a chalky, metallic
feel. After the hen is set she should
be turned out for the first time on the
second day, and after that once day,
fed all the grain, as corn, she will eat.
See that water is obtainable, and do
not allow an absence from the nest Of
more than 30 minutes. BE perfectly
regular as TO time and after the first
few days she will be as regular, and
consequently very little trouble.
II this is worth doing it is worth do
ing we'll, aud l assure you that "the
game is worth the candlen In March
will deal with the rearing Of young
chickens.
CORRECTIONS. In the last notes
for "rooster" read "roaster"-for 1901
read 1000" J. II. {. W.