The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-01
Asiatics Persistent Sitters

hens are not reliable sitters and are sell dom found satisfactory for this work.
 Asiatics Persistent Sitters
 The Asiatics, especially the Brahmas and Cochins, have the sitting instinct strongly developed and will attend strictly to business if permitted to hatch a clutch of eggs. But such breeds are heavy and clumsy, and for this reason are not. as rule, regarded as being ideal sitters. Of course, there are ex- captions. and selected individuals give excellent results. Langshan hens are usually satisfactory, since with their l apparent large size and abundant plum age they are actually heavier than Ply mouth Rock hens.
 Everything considerer sitters of the general-purpose breeds, the Rocks, Wyandottes Rhode Island Reds and Orp- ingtons, are best. They are persistent, quiet, usually gentle, large enough to cover a goodly number of eggs, and sell dom cause loss by crushing eggs or chicks
 Broodiness may develop at any season of the year. but is most common during the spring months, the natural breeding time. As the desire to sit comes on the hens begin to 'cluck'' occasionally, and presently they will remain on the nest at night instead of going to roost It they are to be permitted to sit they should be left undisturbed for short time, as | they may continue to lay for few days. In case it is desired to break them up, they should be immediately removed to a strange pen or placed in a coop with sat bottom. Either plan will 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 rest of the flock Is denied admit tan ie mi st Ike to hap VI they may be disturbed in any manner. The nests should be large enough to afford perfect comfort. Deep boxes or barrels are unsatisfactory, since the hens will break many eggs when compelled to jump down on to them. The best plan is to have the front low, say, six to eight inches high, so that the sitters may carefully step in.
 For nesting material nothing is better than straw or hay of moderate length. Excelsior is sometimes used, but this frequently becomes entangled about the hens legs. and much damage results. Sand or loam makes a good foundation. This is placed In the nest to depth of two or three inches, slightly hollowed out and the straw or hay put on top.
 In all cases the nest should be broad and shallow, with just sufficient pitch to cente rto prevent the eggs from rolling away from the hen. Deep, narrow de-
  quently cause much breakage of eggs. Where a large number of hens are to be set. the nests may be arranged in large pen, either in single rows on the floor or in tiers along the walls. Under such conditions each nest should nave door which may be opened and closed at will and each hen kept confined in her own nest, excepting during the daily ex- ercising and feeding period. Without some such protection there will usually be much fighting, many eggs broken and nests deserted.
 Trap Nest Useful
 The simple trap nest described in a recent article in this series is most convenient arrangement for handling sit ters in large numbers The hens may be reased at a given hour each day and the traps set. As each hen returns to nest she locks herself in and the others out. Consequently there will be but little fighting for the possession of favorite nests and no instances of two hens occupying the same nest, with the result that the contents of other nests are permitted to become chilled
 The nesting pen should be provided with dishes for food and water and a good sized dusting place. The latter requires an abundant supply or road dust, fine sand or sifted loam.
 After the sitters have occupied their nests in the laying pen for two or three nights, they may be removed to the spe- cial quarters provided for them. Any which are so cross as to make handling difficult, or nervous and flighty as to fly from their nests at the least disturb ance. should be broken up.
 The selected birds should be removed to their nests at night. Handle them gently at all times. Dust each one thoroughly with some good powdered lice killer, repeat the treatment each week until the chicks appear.
 Do not give them the selected eggs at first, but test them with the china nest