Profitable poultry

by W. B. Tegetmeier

The number of eggs placed under a hen usually varies from ten to fifteen; no fixed rule can be given—so much depends on the season of the year, the size of the eggs, and that of the hen. If the eggs are cooled during the sitting, which necessarily happens if they are so numerous that the outer ones are covered merely by the feathers, and not by the body of the hen, the chicken will be weakly or deformed; and as the hen constantly shifts their position by pulling those outside into the centre, and so forcing out the others, all become chilled in their turn, and a weakly brood is the result. A hen when sitting, separates the feathers to so great an extent, that the eggs, if they are not in too great number, are in contact with the naked skin of the breast, and such a quantity should only be given, as can be covered in that manner.

I am quite confident that a larger number of chicken can be ensured by sitting a moderate than a large number of eggs, and as to their health and vigour there is no comparison.

In those varieties which lay large eggs, such as Dorkings, I never give a hen more than thirteen eggs, and usually a smaller number; in winter, I would not exceed eight or nine. In the case of Cochins, where the eggs are small and the hens large, a greater number may be given.

With regard to the age of the parents, I believe that it is not so desirable to breed from hens in their first as in the second or third years; the chicken of first year fowls, are more leggy, smaller, and less hardy and vigorous than those that are produced by more mature parents. When young birds are employed, it is desirable to mate pullets with cocks two or three years old, and cockerels with old hens.

Some persons even carry their objection so far, as not to allow young birds to hatch the eggs of older birds, being under the impression they do not sit with sufficient steadiness. This is certainly not true as regards Dorkings and Cochins, for I have found pullets of eight months age, exemplary sitters and nurses; and at the time of writing this in July, I have two Dorkings of fourteen months age, which are running about with their third broods, having hatched in January, May, and July.

To ensure healthy and large-sized chicken it is absolutely necessary that there should not be any relationship between the parents; breeding “in and in,” as it is termed, is well known by all rearers of stock to produce diseased and weakly offspring, hence it is indispensable that there should be an introduction of fresh male birds every two or three years. In farm-yards where there are large numbers of poultry, it will be found by far the most desirable plan to keep separately a cock with from four to six of the best hens, and to hatch their eggs alone. By this means the chicken are all certain of coming from the best birds, and a much smaller number of cocks may be kept with the main stock of hens than would otherwise be desirable. The practice of allowing the hens to run with several cocks is calculated to deteriorate the breed materially, should therefore a larger number of eggs be required for hatching, than furnished by a cock and four or six hens, another set should be separated.

In all cases, over crowding must be carefully guarded against, especially where poultry are kept in a confined situation, for if the ground becomes tainted, the inevitable result is that disease breaks out, and that the chicken, being less able to withstand its influence than older birds, die off rapidly, in spite of good food, warm housing, and every attention that can possibly be paid to them.

Many persons are in the habit of lifting off the sitting hens in order to feed them, I believe that all such interference is uncalled for and injurious; the less a hen is disturbed whilst hatching the better—when hungry and thirsty she will leave the nest, and should be then fed most liberally. Whole corn I think the best for hatching hens, as it remains longer in the crop and so satisfies hunger for a greater length of time. In addition to food and water the hens should always be provided with a heap of dry ashes, to roll in, to enable them to free themselves from vermin.

On the twentieth day some of the chicken usually begin to chip the shell, and, generally speaking, they are all hatched on the twenty-first, that is on the same day three weeks that the eggs are placed under the hen. The practice of removing the first hatched and placing them in flannel by the fire side, is followed by many, but I do not see any possible advantage that can arise from so doing; it is impossible to give the exact temperature of the mother, and a degree of heat higher or lower must necessarily be disadvantageous; the only interference that I think desirable, is to remove, if it can be readily accomplished, the empty shells, otherwise the unhatched eggs are apt to slip into them, and the chicken, although furnished with power to break through one shell are unable to force their way through two. The addled eggs (which are readily distinguished by giving them the slightest possible shake, when the moving of the liquid contents is felt) may also be removed so as to give more room to the live birds.

I am aware that these recommendations to leave natural operations to nature are contrary to what are frequently found in books, but I am merely writing the results of my own experience, and I have always found the more the hatching hens are meddled with, the worse the result. It is a notorious fact that when a hen steals a nest in some copse or place where she can remain unmolested, she almost invariably brings forth a more numerous and stronger brood than when she sits in the hen-house.