Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-11
CHOOSING HENS TIL AT MAKE
BEST MOT HERS FOR MATCHES

System and care in the manage
ment of sitting hens will result in
satisfactory broods of chickens at
a comparatively small expense. How
ever, even with the best of care,
some hens prove to be tickle moth
ers and cause trouble and loss in
Matching by breaking their eggs,
leaving their nests, or trampling on
the chickens when first Matched.
Most hens Of the general-purpose
breeds, such as the Plymouth Rocks,
Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and
Orpingtons, make very good moth
ers. The heavier class, or meat
breeds, including the Brahmas and
Cochins, make good sitters, but are
inclined to be clumsy on the nest.
The Leghorns and other Mediterra-
mean breeds are non-sitters and
rarely make good mothers.
How to Set Hen
AS the time approaches for the
hen to become broody or sit, if care
is taken to look into the nest it
will be seen that there are a few,
soft, downy feathers being left
there by the hen; also, the hen
stays longer on the nest when lay
Ing at this time, and on being ap-
preached will quite likely remain
on the nest, making clucking
noise, ruffling her feathers, and
seeking at the intruder. When it is
noted that a. hen sits on the nest
from two to three nights in success
Iion, and that most Of the feathers
re gone from her breast, which
feels hot to the hand, she is ready
TO be transferred to the nest
which has been prepared for her
beforehand.
Dust the hen thoroughly with in
sect powder, and in applying the
powder hold the hen by the feet
the head down, working the powder
well into the feathers. giving spe-
cial 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,
where the sitting hen will not be
disturbed, and it may consist of
hay, chaff, or straw. Pack firmly
and shape out Of it circular nest
which will be deeper in the center
than at the sides. Move the hen
from the regular laying nest at
night and handle her carefully in
doing so. Put a china egg or two
in the nest where she is to Sit
and place board over the opening
so that she can not get off. Toward
the evening Of the second day quiet
ly go in where she is sitting, leave
some feed and water, remove the
board from the front or top of the
nest, and let the hen come off when
She is ready. Should she return to
the nest after feeding, remove the
china egg or eggs and put under
those that are to be incubated.
If the nests are slightly dark
ened the hens are less likely to be-
come restless. At Matching time they
should be confined and not be dis.
turbed until the bach is completed
unless they become restless, when
1T may be best to remove the chicks
that are Matched first. In cool
weather it is best not to put more
than 10 eggs under a hen, while
later in the spring one can put 10
to Is, according to the size of the
hen.
Care Of the Sitting Hen
If several hens are sitting in the
soebA1lO 1ooII, sec LlIdl lney are Kept
on the nests, allowing them to come
off only once a day to receive feed
and water. the feed to consist of
corn, wheat, or both. If there are
any that do not desire to come
off, they should be taken off. Hens
usually return to their nests before
there is any danger Of the eggs
chilling, but If they do not go back
in half an hour in ordinary wealth
er, they should be put on the nest.
The eggs and nests should be ex-
amined and cleaned. Remove all
broken eggs and wash those that
are soiled. In the latter case the
soiled nesting material should be
removed and clean straw added.
Nests containing broken eggs that
the hen is allowed to sit on soon
become infested with mites and lice.
which cause the hens to become
uneasy and leave the nest, often
causing the loss of valuable sittings
of eggs.