Poultry Notes

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 12, 18 August 1937, Page 5

Poultry Notes

HATCHING WITH HENS. After we have secured eggs from good/ vigorous stock, the next question is how they shall be hatched. Nature provided that the hen should care for her own eggs, and at certain seasons she becomes broody and betakes herself to a nest where she is willing to stay with three weeks, or until her care and attention are rewarded by the welcome sound c*f a series of peeps that foretell " • -ling brood. -lie hen has not outlived her usefulness as a hatching machine. She still has her place to till and it is an important one. Where the poultry farmer is in no hurry to get early chicks, and does not want to spend time needed for watching an incubator, the hen will be of great service to him. In fact, there are some farmers in Australia who will not use other than the hen for incubating, some keeping several hens for the purpose. Many people who keep only a small flock and who do not care to increase the number to any great extent, will find the lien entirely satisfactory for their purpose. Even the professional poultrynian may find the services of a few sitting liens valuable, as they arc well adapted to hatching small numbers of eggs from special matings where the chicks may be marked so that a pedigree 'record can be kept. If you decide to use some of your hens for hatching purposes, you must provide them with suitable quarters. For many years people were told ■that the proper place for the nest of a sitting hen was on the ground, shaded and moist. Later it was stated that if the nest was to be placed in a building a large piece of sod with the dirt side up should' be used in the bottom. But it has been found that the ground is not a better place to set a hen, unless during extremely hot weather-Whatever the place selected, it should be somewhat secluded and entirely shut away from other hens, so that the broody can sit undisturbed. A chicken coop makes an ideal spot for placing a sitting hen and she can be left in possession when the chicks arrive.

Feed and water should lie place J ■within easy acn-ess, and the water changed frequently. A generous dust - bath should also be furnished. If the nest is inside a building, see that tlij l hen {jets plenty of green stuff and :i little lean meat is advantageous. Maize is good, especially in cold weather. Before the lien is placed on the nest see that she is well treated for lice am.! vermin, and once or twice during her stay the treatment should be repeated. I always sprinkle a small quantity of tobacco dust on the nest, but treatment with blackleaf 40 may be better. Be sure that the hen is dead earnest in her desire to sit, and if the pi are she chooses is not where you wish her to stay, change her to the new quarters at night, as she will be less restive. The quiet hen 'that would naturally lie considered the best sitter is really the poorest hatcher, as she retains the same position on the nest too lung at a -time, not giving the eggs air or the embryo exercise as she would bv moving about and changing the 'position of the eggs. The hens doing the best work are those luning a nervous temperament, shifting about on the nest, an.J changing (he position of the eggs with their beaks. When you have a close sitter, she should be lifted oil' frequently, so that with your hands you can change the eggs about in the nest. Those that feel cool, or not as warm as the ethers, should lie placed in tho centre of the nest. All eggs should be tested as soon as their fertility can be discovered, which is the sixth day for light-coloured shells and a day or two later for those having dark-coloured shells. After some experience, the eggs may be successfully tested two or three days earlier, but nothing is gained in so doing. All infertile eggs should be removed at once, and also those containing dead germs, for these latter are liable to get broken and make a dirty nest. Egg testers can be bought, but they are not necessary, as you can manage with your hands to much better advantage. Hold the eggs between the thumbs and first fingers, keeping the hands as flat as possible to exclude the light near the egg. Then by holding the egg before a brilliant light you can see the condition of the egg and its contents. In holding the egg next the light, look through the side, not through the end. Keep turning the egg with thumbs and fingers until you have seen all parts of it, so as to determine its exact condition. At the first testing discard all eggs that are perfectly clear, as they are infertile, and can be used for cooking, or fed to the chickens. At any subsequent testing, remove all eggs that are decidedly behind the others in their development, as they are but imperfectly fertilised, and will not produce chickens. Finally 'do not interfere with the hen while the eggs are hatching. Many people make a mistake in lifting the hen up to see how many are eirt. Leave her be till the job is over when she can be removed, if necessary, to the brooding coop.