The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-19
THROUGH the incubator is being

THROUGH the incubator is being
steady improved and yearly
= growing in popularity, the good
old way of Matching chicks by hen
power is still mighty popular, On
most large poultry plants, it is true,
the wooden hen" is depended upon
almost exclusively to bring out the
annual crop of chicks, but since the
greater part of our poultry products
comes from the vast number of small
flocks maintained on general farms
and in the back yards in towns and
villages where the natural method
of incubation is largely practiced, it
Is quite evident that the machine can
not entirely supplant the mother hen
There is an honest difference of
opinion among poultrymen as to the
relative value of hen-hatched and ma
chine-hatched chicks. However, it
will be noticed that the advocates of
the artificial method do not claim
that chicks so produced are superior
to those hatched under hens, but
merely that they are equally as good,
and so the owner of flock of natur-
ally incubated chicks can feel sure
that these are as good as could be
produced from the eggs used.
Hatching Equipment Simple.
1t is simple matter to set one or
two hens and care for them during
the period of incubation. 1t is quite
another matter to successfully man
age any considerable number of sit
ters and satisfactory results can only
be obtained through providing the
simple equipment required to keep
them upder control and carefully
looking after many details of man
agement. Unless this is done, one
may expect to have many exasper-
ating experiences and submit to the
loss of many valuable eggs and
chicks.
Broodiness is a normal character
istic of all domestic fowls, and is most
common during the Spring months,
the natural breeding period of all
birds In certain breeds of poultry,
as the Leghorns, this desire to incu-
bate has largely disappeared, Hens
of the non-sitting breeds are usually
nervous and flighty, easily broken
up" and usually unreliable sitters.
For this reason they are not to be
depended upon for this important
work. On the other hand, the Asiatic
breeds and certain of the American
breeds are most persistent in their
desire to rear a family, and these are
most popular among poultrymen who
use hens to do the Matching.
At this season of the year the
broody hen is much in evidence. In
every flock will be observed individ-
uals which are showing the symptoms
in varying degrees. 1t will be noticed
that they remain on the nest after
laying and object to being disturbed.
Presently they begin to cluck occa-
sionally and shortly they remain on
the nest at night.
At this point the poultryman
should take action. If he proposes
to make his hens lay and let the in
cubator hatch the eggs, he should at
once break up the broodes so they
will speedily begin egg production
again. If he proposes to set some
hens, he should select those which
promise to be most faithful and pro
tect them from disturbances and
break up the fever in the nervous in
divduals, which would be trouble
some If given a clutch of eggs tc
hatch.
This breaking-up process is simple
If it is used in time. The very first
night the hen remains on the nest
instead of going to roost, is the right
time to take care of her. She should
be at once placed in the broody cooT
or yard, and in the majority of cases
she will soon be ready to resume hel
duties as a part of the laying flock
The broody coop may be made en-
tirely of lath or wire netting or sim
ply box with slat or netting bottom
1t should be suspended above the
floor 50 plenty of air may circulate
through it, and within sight of thu
laying flock. In such quarters thu
most obstinate sitter will soon de
mand her freedom, so she may re
Join her active sisters, especially /
she receives plenty of egg-makini
food and but little corn