Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1915-04-23

hens to become broody or sit, il care
Is taken 70 look in the nests il will
be seen that there a few soft downy
feathers being left there by the hens
also, the hens stay longer ON the
nests when laying at this time, and
ON being approached will quite likely
remain ON the nest, ruffling up their
feathers and pecking at the intruder.
When il is noted that a hen sits on
the nest for two or three nights in
succession, she is ready to be trans.
ferred to nest which should be pre-
pared for her beforehand. This nest
should be in box and composed Of
straw, hay, or chat for nsting mn.
terial. Pack this material down firm
~ and shape circular nest out of il
which should be slightly deeper in the
center than at the edges, as a nest
40 shaped will prevent the eggs from
rolling out from under the hen and
becoming chilled. Dust the hen thor
oughly with insect powder. In apply
ing the powder, hold the hen by the
feet. head down, working the powder
well into the feathers, giving special
attention TO regions around the vent
and under the wings. The powder
should also be sprinkled in the nest.
The nest should be in some quiet,
out -of-the-way place on the farm,
where the sitting hen will not be- dis
turbed. Move her from the regular
laying nest at night. Handle her
carefully in doing so. Put u china
egg or two in the nest where she j.
to sit, and place n board over the
opening so that she can not get of.
Toward evening of the second day,
quietly 90 in where she is sitting,
and leave some feed and water, and
remove the board from the front or
top of the nest, and let the hen come
of when she is ready. Should SHE
return to the nest after feeding. re-
move the china egg or eggs and put
under those that are to be incubated.
IN cool weather it is best to put not
more than 10 eggs under hen. while
later in the spring one can put IL to
ID. according to the size of the hen.
II several hens are sitting in the same
room. see that they are kept on the
nests. only allowing them to come oil
to get feed and water, which should
be once day.
Many eggs that are laid in the late
winter and early spring are infer.
tile. For this reason il is advisable
To set several hens at the same time.
After the eggs have been under the
I'm for seven days they should be
tested to see whether they are frtilc
mr. infcrtile. lnfertile eggs should be-
removed and used at home in cooking
pr for omelets. and the fertile eggs
should be put back under the hen. In
This way il is often possible to put
nll the eggs that three hens originally
started to Sit on under two hens and
reset the other hen again. For OK.
ample: Thirty eggs are set under
hree hens At the same time. 10 under
'ach. AZ the end of seven day- We
ind on testing the egg, that 10 arr
nfcriile. which leaves us 20 eggs to
'esci. which we do by putting then,
lndcr two hens and have the remain.
~ one Ia set over again after she
las set only seven days.
\ good homemade egg tester m
andlcr can be made from n large
hoe box. or any box that i. larg.
nough to 20 over lamp. by remov-
NJ an end and cutting hole u little
nreer than the size of quarter in
he bottom of the box. so that when
Is set over common Kerosene
amp the hole IN the bottom will be
opposite the blaze. A hole the size
I silver dollar should be cut in the
mp of the box to allow the heat to
scape. An infertilc egg when held
eforc the small hole with the lamp
GIFTED inside the box will look per
rcily clear. the same rs n fresh one
lille II fertile egg will show n small
ark spot known as the embryo. with .
mass of little blood veins extending
all directions if the embryo is liv-
~. II dead. il the egg has been in
ibaled for ut least 30 hours, the
Iood settles away from the embryo
ward the edges of the yolk. forminc 1
some eases an irregular circle of
ood known rs n blood RAG. Egg,
iry in this respect. some showing
NV n streak of hlood Tn. t.st;p.