Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1919 — POULTRY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POULTRY

HOW TO SET A HEN PROPERLY N**t Should Be In Bom* Quiet Place When* She Won’t Be DisturbedHandle Carefully. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) The first sign of a hen being broody (wanting to set) is that she stays longer on the nest when laying, and on being approached will’ quite likely remain and make a clucking noise, ruffle her feathers and peck at the intruder. When it is noted that a hen sets on a nest from two to three nights in succession and that the feathers are disappearing from her breast which should feel hot to the hand, she is ready to be transferred for setting to a nest which has pre-

vi'ously been prepared. The normal temperature of a hen is from 106 to 107 degrees F., which varies slightly during incubation. The nest should be in some quiet, out-of-the-way place, where the sitting hen will not be disturbed. Move her 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 a board over the opening so that she cannot get off. Toward the evening of the second day quietly go in where she Is sitting, leave some feed and water, remove the boaqf 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 darkened the hens are less likely to become restless. At hatching time they should be confined and not be disturbed until the hatch Is completed, unless they become restless, when it may be best to remove the chicks that are hatched 'first. In cool weather it is best not to put more than ten eggs under a hen, while later in the spring one can put twelve to fifteen, according to the size of the hen. Dust the hen thoroughly with Insect powder, and in applying the powder hold the hen by the feet, the 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.

Well-Selected Flock of Young Hens of Uniform Size.