THE POULTRY YARD

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 January 1916, Page 3

THE POULTRY YARD

MANAGEMENT OF SITTING

HENS

(From the Journal of Agriculture)

As a great majority of readers will he rearing their chicks in nature's way, a few words on the management of the sitting hen may prove useful. In the first place, tho sitting lion should always be isolated from the local i'owlhouse, in order to guard against vermin and prevent the other hens from disturbing her. A good plan is to make the nest in a coop with a SQiall run covered with smallmesh wire netting, where the chickens may remain as long as the hen requires to brood them. Such a coop about .iOins square, made watertight, and with lid. hinged or movable, will prove very useful. Thn rnn can be "tixrtdtj,-about Bft long, 3ft 6in wide, and iSin^high. Both p.oop and run can be readily removed v> hesh ground or stored under cover in the off>seasm. The nest should be be made on the ground and filled with fairly moist earth at least 4in above the ground level; this will prevent the nest getting wet in the event of heavy rains. When forming the nest the earth should be hollowed out in. the centte and lined with soft hay or pine-needles, and a sprinkling of sulphur or disinfectant given to prevent the appearance of vermin. It should also be remeirbe.ed that the hen will do her duty much better and remain in better condition if dusted witu. insect powder when set and a few days before hatching takes place. On no account dust the hen when the chioks are very young, or it probably have the effect of blinding them.

Ct is a mistake to put too many eggs under a hen. Twelve or thirteen, are in uadst cases as many as can be satisfactorily brooded. A mediumsized hen is to be preferred ; there is less risk of the eggs being broken or the chicks being trampled to death. It is always best to remove in the evening the hen intended for sitting. She should be placed on a few ; china eggs untii showing thut she can be entrusted with the eggs intended fur hatching purposes. It must not be

forgotten that the hen turns the eggs several times a day, and must have the necessary room in the nest to do

this. The nest should not be made too concave, or the eggs may roll on each other and get broken ; on the other hand, it must not be too flat, or the hen may not be able to keep tli9tn all covered or under control. In th;» event of any eggs getting broken .and. tiie others becoming coated with the contents, these should, be washed in warm water, as otherwise the pores become closed and this will interfere with their hatching - qualities. The hen is always better left to herself, with food, water, and grit placed within reach, und allowed to come off tvhen. she pleases. Sitting hens should, he given grain food only, and wheat for preference. Any wet or sloppy food will cause seouripg, which should be avoided if possible. A<; pipping-time the hen should not be interfered with ; she can manage best by herself until the hatching is over. At this stage the shells may be taken away and the nest made as comfortable a.s possible. Care should be taken to prevent the littJe ones from accident, The coops should be made both rat- and cat proof. On no account use a deep water-tin; many a chick has been diowned owing to neglect in this matter. There is no 'hurry to feed the chicks for at least twenty-four hours after they aro hatched. Those who have no machinei]v for grinding grains will find, it more convenient to feed the chickens with the best commercial chicken-food on ..-the market.