Milford chronicle., 1915-02-26

y prepare for the broody hen. Do not wal
a until the time actually comes when oil
2 biddy is ready to take the nest, befor
p you begin to make preparations for he
III comfort during the time of incubation.
ii The time is rapidly approaching, if in
III deed it has not already arrived, when thu
III hens will become broody. If we are pre-
III pared to care for them, it will meaI
III much toward helping to get out early the
II Youngsters that are to become our future
II layers.
II If one has not already mated his birds
II for the purpose of getting eggs for hatch.
II ing, but on the contrary is depending
II upon the purchase of setting eggs from
II some other breeder, he can by watching
his hens, carefully tell just when to place
II his order that too much time will not be
lost in waiting for them to arrive.
II 1t is the nature of the hen, when pass-
II ing from its natural to its broody state,
to remain longer on the nest when laying
than she ordinarily does when there is
| no thought of broodiness This may be
accepted as the first sign toward broodi
ness, and is noticeable if the attendant
watches his birds. When hen is found
to sit longer on the nest than usual, it
will be found upon examination, that the
nest will contain some of the soft downy
feathers which she loses, and this is a
sure sign that she is getting broody.
The third test, with reference to the
approaching broodiness of hen, is her
actions when approached while occupy
ing the nest. She will not alight from
the nest, but instead, upon your approach
will crouch herself more firmly upon the
nest, emit sounds peculiar only to herself,
and will If you get too close, proceed to
peck you on the hand or even in the face.
This, however, is the last sign that she
desires to brood and is practically ready
to begin operations.
By observing the hen, by means of the |
former signs, one can prepare ahead of |
time for her accommodation. She shows |
by the latter sign that the time for the |
purchasing OF the eggs under her has ar
rived.
When her intentions are manifested
! by the latter sign, place few eggs under
the hen to encourage and hold her until Ii
you are sure that she means business and
is not in any way fooling. By no means
give her setting Of valuable eggs which 4
have either been saved from a good mat.
ing or purchased at a good price for the
purpose, until she has at least remained (,
constantly upon the nest Of test eggs for ,
three or four days. ! !
When this time has elapsed, and she I
has been faithful with the test eggs. she
may be transferred to another nest con-
tanning the setting Of good eggs with some y
degree of safety that she will go the full
route. The transfer of the brOody hen <
from the test nest to that containing the 0
good eggs should never be made except a
ing in the dark, preferably at night, and q
then without the aid of light, and in a u
most gentle manner. Handle the broody
hen as though she were a real live baby. CT
The transfer can be made with but lit. in
lie or no trouble, provided the nest con- 70
alnlng the eggs to be incubated has been at
arranged and prepared beforehand. In bC
he afternoon OF the day on which the or
ranster is to be made, arrange the nest at
or the hen. 1t should be thoroughly
leaned, disnfected and provided with be
ood Clean straw, hay or some equally on
OFT material but my preference for this tal
a good clean straw. A fairly good nest TT
1ay be made By pressing the nesting wa
Material down firmly with the hands, but sol
laklng 1t slightly deeper in the centre spi
nan on the sides, or in other words, raj
'5mlng sort OF hole in the centre. up
The idea thus forming the nest before
wing it to the hen is to hold the eggs
osely punched together at the start, for
le hen will practically reconstruct it
hen once she is given full charge, and
Ould and fashion it after her own ideas on
hlcn cannot be improved upon by hu lett
an hands. ricI
The nest should not only be thoroughly on
sinfected prior to nlsrin, tbe no., e. (, dea
It the nesIino material sbonId he c,;,,on ext
thoron0h drsting uitb so,,1a ,,ooS i;on bul
wider; and this treatment should be re. pia'
ated several times during the period of 0'eg
cnbatlon, to help keep down the lice. tnI' tnI'
addition to the treatment OF the nest. mo
e hen should be busted thoroughly irOl
tn lice powder prior to her being placed ueG' G
on the nest, and this rubbed well into 1
feathers. This helps to destroy what u19 IN y
she may have at the time, and one aua
two applications while she is incubat- pug
, will not do any harm, but will aid losis
r materially. gern
N busting the hen, it is best to hold
, bird by the feet, it's head hanging
wn, and work the powder we'll into
base OF the feathers with the fingers. Nj
'ticulerly in the fluff under the body, Lew
uDd the vent and under the wings as visit
s here that lice usually cengregate in for a
larger numbers. M,
he specially constructed nest for set. from
should be IN a place apart from week
ere the rest of the flock is housed, if M
} is possible. If this cannot be done. ON F
n the nest should be placed in a dark Mr.
ler of the house and fitted with a Lowe
ted wire front, which may be hinged Mr.
purpose of convenience. with
ne slatteo or wire front is for the pur- dova
of keeping other members of the Mr.
from going on the same nest and visit
ng while the other hen is incubating. Mr.
~ nothing of their crowding or fight. Mr.. a
WIN the Oroody one, thus breaking day.
? Of the Matching eggs. Mr.,
} not allow the broody hen to come home
er nest but once a day while engaged friend
atching, at which time she should Mr..
iven a liberal supply of wholesome in Or,
and water. Do not neglect to supply Mrs
It bath for the use of old biddy while more
g. and it will be found that she will Mrs
gularly to it every morning, almost vile Q