The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-01

eggs or unmatched eggs from other nests until they have accepted the situation and shown a willingness to attend to business.
 Remove the hens from the nest the next morning and feed them liberally. They will usually return to the nests of their own accord Otherwise catch and replace them. On the second morning take out the test eggs while the hens are feeding and put in those which are to be incu- bated. If the latter are accepted there should be no further trouble.
 The number of eggs to be placed in each nest is determined by the size of the hen and the season of the year. Early in the spring from 10 to 13 eggs may be given each sitter of average size As the weather becomes warmer from 13 to b will prove satisfactory. Make each sitter do her full duty. but do not risk having valuable eggs chilled because the hen is not able to cover them. The sitters should be fed daily. Some times certain hens will refuse to leave the nest each day, and such should De removed. Otherwise they may become so thin that they will fail to bring off good hatch.
 The ration should consist entirely of whole grain, principally corn. small amount of green food may be given oc- ! casionaly, but this should be limited in
 
 Let each hen have all the grain she will eat. Also plenty of grit and clean, fresh water. The dusting place should be kept clean, as it will be freely used. All nests should be examined each day when the hens are off. If eggs have been broken or the nest otherwise soiled, it should be cleaned up and new material added If required. Soiled eggs should be wiped off, using warm water if necessary. There is a big advantage In setting three or more hens at one time. Their eggs may be tested at the end or a week. and the infertiles thrown out. The fertile eggs may then be doubled up under cer- tain hens, and new lots of eggs given the hens thus let idle. It also frequently happens that the chicks may be given to a part of the sitters, and the, others re- turned to the laying pens.
 When the eggs begin to pip. usually on the night of the nineteenth or the morn ing of the twentieth day, the hens should be given their final dusting and induced to eat a full meal. Good sltters will usually refuse to leave the nest after the first chick appears. Sometimes it is nec- essary to feed them right on the nest, though this is rare.
 little carelessness on the part of the attendant at matching time may mean much loss. The hens should be watched with great care Sometimes excitable in- diyiduals will pick their chicks to death, and the babies should be removed at ire quent intervals and placed in a padded box or basket which is kept in warm spot. Other hens get nervous when they hear the "peep, peep of their chicks, and in their efforts to quiet them trampe many. In such cases the above method should be adopted.
 Fortunately, most hens seem to know exactly what to do and take the best ell &s.f Ctfph esI,. ,rt11 be left undisturbed until the hatch is completed. It might also be remarked that these hens may safely be en- trusted the task of rearing their own chicks and those matched by the unre- liable individuals mentioned above.
 There is an additional danger of loss at matching time which should be guarded against. As the chicks dry off and gain strength, they frequently come out from beneath the mother and go off on little exploring expeditions. If the sides of the nest are low the ad- yenturous youngsters sometimes tumble out and become chilled before being dis covered. If the hen is unconfined she will often go to the rescue of the wander CTS, leaving the unliatched eggs. If, on the other hand, she is confined to the nest she may trample the remaining chicks and eggs in her efforts to go to the assis- 1 tance of the crying youngsters outside. |; This clearly indicates the necessity of so arranging the nests at matching time that no chick can possibly get out.
 And finally. fight the Understanding | mites constantly. These tiny, spider-like | pests multiply at an astonishing rate in warm weather, and if they secure d lodg- | ment in the nests of the sitters they will | cause no end of trouble. Many times | they actually kill the hens.
 Prevention is better than cure. See to i 1t that the nests and hens are free from yermin. If mites are found, transfer ! the hen and eggs to a new nest and clean up the old quarters. A thorough