Evening star., 1919-03-09
CARING FOR THE HOME FLOCK
BY H. w. RICkEY.
Poultry Specialist, Maryland State College.

power. All eggs intended for incuba-
ton should be set as soon after they
are laid as possible, and should be
stored, if only for short period, in
cool. moist place and turned occasion
ally in order to keep the contents
evenly balanced After they are from
ten days to two weeks old fertile eggs
deteriorate rapidly and more rapidly
if kept in a warm and dry place. This
is due to the fact that high tempera-
lures influence the growth of decom-
lrosing bacteria within the egg and
or too rapid evaporation. OF the liquid
content.
Under perfectly normal or natural
conditions. as for example where the
NEST is stolen" we find the hen lay
ing fertile egg each day or two for
period of twenty or more days, at the
end of which time she begins to sit
but during these twenty days germi-
nation, which has already started be-
fore the egg has left the body of the
hen, is activated or stimulated each
time the hen returns to the nest to lay.
Thus, more or less continuous proc
ess of incubation is involved. while
with eggs held in storage the life
processes or the development of the
embryo is temporarily suspended
which if continued for an undue
ened or lowered vitality. This is shown
by the fact that the Matching power of
eggs gathered and held in storage in
creases when placed under high incu-
! baton temperature for limited time
each day.
| All sitting hens should be thorough
| ly busted with a good louise powder
before being placed in the nest. This
powder should be rubbed or busted
| into the feathers down to the skin
Another busting should be given about
a week before the eggs are due to
match. The powder used may be any
of the well known commercial pow
ders, including the Persian or Dalma-
ton insect powder. or the commercial
sodium f1ourid. which is especially
recommended by the U. s. Department
or Agriculture as a louse exterminator
In Farmers Bulletin, No. 301 The hen
should then be set in clean. well
rounded and comparatively shallow
nest in a shed or other outbuilding
away from the laying house, where
| they will not be annoyed by the other
mems or by the lice and mites which
too often infest the poultry house.
care should be taken to see that the
nest boxes. if old ones, are disinfected
with some good disinfectant, such as
the commercial coal tar solutions.
which are commonly used for this
purpose. The boiling water, or a So
luton made of crude carbolic acid and
water, Will usually answer the pur-
pose, but have no lasting effect. It
has been found that more and strong
er chicks are Matched from eggs set
IN earth nests. 1t is advisable. there
lore, either to set the hen on a nest
followed out of the earth floor or in a
box with two or three inches of moist
earth on the bottom and then covered
with a layer of some of the usual
nesting materials. The dimensions of
the nest box should be for the larger
breeds about sixteen inches wide by
sixteen inches deep. and. if made with
top. 1t should be high enough to
permit the fowl to stand upright in
the nest Have movable front
made of wire or Stats so that the hen
may be shut in for several days or. IL
change has been made. until she be-
comes accustomed to her new nest
When this is apparent quietly slip
the eggs under her at night, when she
will more quickly settle down to busi-
ness.
During the process of incubation do
not annoy the setting hen more than
possible. and at Matching time
Do not handle the hens.
Do not lift the hens from the nest
Do not help the chick from the shell
and thus save the chick from being
trampled upon, keep the conditions
surrounding the eggs unchanged and
prevent the Matching of weak chicks
mat are not strong enough to break
through the Shan