The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
CARENECESSARYIN
PICKING SITTING HENS
Many characteristics Must BE
Considered In Making
Selection.
SEVERAL BREEDS EXCEL
General Purpose Ones Like the
Rocks and Wysndottes
Are Dependable
SEVERAL BREEDS EXCEL


stronger have greater vitality than those
ton. That this idea 10 founded on fact
IL q matter which IL open 10 debate out
any one who wishes TO play safe will DO
yell TO hatch a portion Of his chicks N The
good old fashioned way.
On large plants the incubator II IN
ABSOLUTE necessity: on small Diants Il -
a convenience When properly constructed
and carefully operated Il does it, WORK
veil. And the quality of the chicks Il
produces Is after all determined In . very
nre. degree by the quality Of eggs en-
trusted TO H. A good incubator Matched
chick is 10 be preferred TO q poor hen
Matched chick. and vice versa.
There IL an art in the selection and
handling OF sitting hens. Some hens are
80 aigh,y and nervous. some are so heavy
and clumsy that they should not be used
,or the work Of rearing families. Others
are quiet and dependable, seldom break
erro or crush chicks. and such are valu-
sNi 10 the poultryInan who uses tho
r,,ural method of Matching and brooding
II fact some poultrymen retain hens OF
his character from year TO year long
after they have passed the period OF
profitable egg production. asserting that
;hey pay their way by successfully rear
lng one or more good broods OF chicks
each season
Hens OF virtually all breeds will be-
come oroody and hatch chicks X given
an opportunity In the non-s!tting breeds,
as the Leghorns Mnorcas, &C. the ten
dency toward broodines has been largely
oescured. but a certain percentage Of the
:males OF such breeds become broody
each season. Because OF their excitable.
nervous temperament such hens are not
reliatte sitierr and are seldom found sat.
isfasAory for this work.
The Asiatcs. especially the Brahmas
and Cochins, have the sitting instinct
strongly developed and will attend strictly
10 business II permitted to hatch a clutch
Of eggs But such breeds are heavy and
clumsy. and FOR this reason are not as a
.ue regarded as being Ideal sitters. OF
course there are exceptions. and selected
Individuals give excellent results. Lang.
shan hens are usually satisfactory, since
with their apparent large sf8e and abun-
dani pluna.e they are actually no heavier
than Plymouth Rock hens
Everything considered. sltters OF the
general purpose breeds, the Rocks. wyan-
do:tes Rhode Island Reds and Orping-
tons are best They are persistent. quiet.
usually gentle large enough to cover q
Goody number OF eggs and seldom cause
Broodness may develop At any season
81 th- year. but is most common during
the spring months. the natural breeding
tine. As the desire TO sit comes on the
hens begin 10 ciuck occasionally and
presently they will remain on the nest a,
night instead OF going TO roost II they
are 20 be permitted 10 sit they should
Re left undisturbed for a short time. as
they may continue to lay for a few days
In case II Ia desired TO break them up"
they should be Immediately removed to .
strange pen or placed in a coop with q
sa, bottom. Either plan viii usually
cause them to change their minds and
return to. the business Of egg production.
The nests for the sitters should be pre-
pared in some suitable place TO which the
rN OF the flock Is denied admittance.
1t 10 mistake to set hens where they
may DO disturbed in any manner.
The nests should be large enough 10
AFFORD perfect comfort. Deep boxes or
barrels are unsatisfactory. since the hens
Wi break many eggs when compelled to
jump down on TO them. The best plan IL
70 have the front low, say SIX to eight
inches high SO that the sitters may care
fully step In.
For nesting material NOTHING 10 better
t1an straw or hay OF moderate length.
Excelsior is sometimes used. but this
frequently becomes entasled about the
hens legs and much damage results.
Sand or loan makes a good foundation.
ms Is placed In the nest to depth OF
NO or three inches, slightly followed
Out and the straw or hay put on top.
In all cases the nest should be broad
ard shallow with just sufYicient pitch to
centre to prevent the eggs from rolling
away from the hen. Deep. narrow de-
pfessons In the nesting material fire.
elently cause much breakase of eggs.
Where large number OF hens are to be
s@ the nests may be arranged in q
arse pen, either In single rows on the
moor or In tiers along the walls. Under
sleA conditions each nest should have a
>ooo7 which may be opened and closed a
VII and each hen kept confined In her
own nest excepting during the daily ex-
efc'slns and feeding period. without
some such protection there will usually
N much ightins. many eggs broken and
hests deserted.
The trap nest Is a most convenient ar
Judgement for handling sitt.rs In large
numbers. The hens may be released al
gwen hour each day and the traps set
~ each hen returns to a nest she locks
herself In and the others out. Conse-
ouently there will be but little fighting fol
,he Possession OF favorlte nests and nc
instances Of two hens occupying the same
her with the result that the contents ol
CALLED
The nesting pen should be provided with
sshes for food and water and . good
t,ec busting place. The latter requires
abundant supply Of road dust. nn<
= ara or slfted loam
After the sitters have occupied the1,
hrs In the laying pen for two or thre'
htnts they may be removed to the specia
quarters provided for them. Any which
are 90 cross as TO make handling difiicul
.rso nervous and nishty as to ny frosr
,her nests at the least disturbance sh0ult
be broken up.
The selected birds should be moved 4
'helr new nests at night Handle then
tentiy al AL times. Dust each one thor
oosh'y with some good powdered iic'
kller, repeating the treatment each weel
wtlI the chicks appear.
DO not give them the selectsd egg
u hrsi, bur test them with china nos
esgs or unmatched eggs from other nest
uhtl they have accepted the situation
ness
Remove the hens from the nest tn
nsx' morning and feed them literally
aney Will usually return to the nests o
ue,r own accord, Otherwise catch an
replace them. On tho second mornint
!ake out the test eggs while the hens ar
"edlng and put In those which are to b
ncuoat,d, H tho latter are accapte
u'sre should be no further trouble.
Tue number Of egss to be placed I