The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-06

y y y y y y = y y . y y y y y y y y
. The following is the second of .
= series of articles by Harry NJ. .
o Lamon, Senior Animal Husband .
. man in Poultry Investigations, .
. Animal Husbandry Division of .
. Bureau of Animal Industry Of .
. the United States Department Of o
. Agriculture, on the natural and .
= artificial incubation Of hens 8
. egga .
90 e@~%A%@@~@@~@%~% .
= YSTEM and care in the manage
- ment Of sitting hens will produce
q large number of chickens at a
comparatively small expense. Even
with the best Of care, some hens prove
10 bs tickle mothers and cause trouble
and loss in Matching by breaking their
eggs, leaving their nests, or trampling
On the chickens when first Matched.
Most hens Of the general purpose breeds,
such as the Plymouth Rocks, Wyan-
dottes, Rhode Island Reds, and Orping
tons, make very good mothers. The
heavier class, or meat breeds, includ-
ing the Brahnas and Cochins, make
good sitters, but are inclined to be
clumsy on the nest. The Leghorns and
ether Mediterranean breeds are very
nervous, and usually do not make good
nOthers.
Where only few hens arc set, spe-
cal quarters are not necessary, but
whers many are used separate room
sAouM be provided for the sitters
Portable nests are frequently furnished
for the laying hens, so that broody
Aens can be moved in them to new
quarters Of the various styles of nests
used for sitting hens, the following has
Eivcn satisfaetion: Is inches square, Is
inches high, with board inches high
h front to prevent nesting material
from falling out. The nests may be
arranged in tiers, with hinged front,
which makes a platform for each tier
when open. A large number of hens
nay be set in this way in moderate
sized room. When using bank Of
nests, such as that which has just been
described, it would be well to place 3
or inches of damp earth in the bottom
Of each nest. The nesting material is
next put in, and may consist of hay,
chaff or straw. Pack this material
down firmly, and shape circular nest
out of it, which should be slightly deep
or in the center than at the edges, as a
nest so shaped will prevent the eggs
from rolling out from under the hen and
becoming chilled
How to Set a Hen.
As the time approaches for the hen
10 become broody or sit, if care is taken
TO look into the nest, it will be seen
that there are few soft, downy feath-
srs being left there by the hen; also
the hen stays longer on the nest when
laying at this time, and on being ap-
preached will quite likely remain on
the nest, making clucking noise,
ruffling her feathers, and peeking at the
intruder. When it is noted that hen
sits on the nest from two to three
nights succession, and that most Of
the feathers are gone from her breast,
which should feel hot to the hand, she
IL ready to be transferred to q nest
which has been prepared for her before
hand. The normal temperature Of hen
is from 106 to LOT degrees F., which
varies slightly during incubation. Dust
the hen thoroughly with insect powder
and in applying the powder hold the
hen by the feet, the head down, work
ing the powder well into the feathers
giving special attention to regions
around the vent and under the wings
The powder should also be sprinkled il
the nest. The nest should be in some
quiet, out-of the-waJ place, where the
sitting hen will not be disturbed. Move
her from the regular laying nest al
night and handle her carefully in doing
SO. Put china egg or two in the nes
where she is to sit, and place boar(
over the opening so she can not get off
Toward the evening of the second day
ru;af1v no in xyhnra sho ia sitting leav,