The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, April 13, 1922, Image 8
Hatching Chicks by Hen-Power
(By Prof. Frederic H. Stoneburn
Poultry Editor of The World.)
According to the point of view, ^
broody hen an unmitigated nuisance
or a treasure. If one wants
eggs he views with more than ordinary
displeasure the determined eforts
of each motherly hen to be responsible
for a family, in the meantime
neglecting her duty of helping
to fill the egg basket. But if henhatched
chicks are desired the "cluck,
cluck, cluck," which tells the tale
of willingness to assume the trying
duty of hatching and rearing a brood
of youngsters is music indeed.
This broody fever is almost as regular
as the tides and nearly as difficult
to control. It will break out
when the proper season arrives, but
if one acts promptly the would-be
mother can be quickly "broken up"
and sent back to the job cf egg production.
If action is deferred, however,
the matter becomes mere complicated.
As an example of sheer obstinacy
the determined broody hen
takes high rank.
Try a Coop.
Many and varied are the methods
used to quell the fever, some of them
cruel, some merely stupid. Fright
and starvation are popular remedies,
but both are harmful and therefore
to the owner. The damage
dene in this way must be impaired
before the bird can again become a
steady producer. A simple breakingup
coop does the work far better, and
every poultry house should have this
necessary piece of equipment.
Such a coop can be made of laths
set about two inches apart, or of
poultry netting stapled cn wooden
frames. But whatever the construction
of the top and walls of the coop
the floor should be of slate or netting
ro the air can freely circulate underneath
the bodies of the birds. It
must be a bit discouraging to try to
heat up all outdoors!
Make the coop rOomy and suffi
e?ently high to permit the birds to
stand comfortably upright It may
be kept in the poultry house or, as
the warm season comes on, in a
sheltered place outside.
If hens are to be broken up, transfer
them to the coop the v;ry first
7light they desert their roosts and
remain on the nests, quick action of
*his kind seems to shorten the break:ing-up
process. Supply plenty of waJ
>olnn(y
cer ana icsa uueian^ vn ^6??
food, especially the laying mash.
Green food daily is also desirable.
Do not feed much com.
Under such treatment the fowls are
not debilitated; rather they are built
up. the egg-producing organs begin
to funct on again and the maternal instinct
is forgotten for the time being.
A"- soon as the birds begin to lay or
show evidence of a change of heart,
if store their liberty.
If Encouragement is Needed.
So much for repressive measures.
Or. the other hand, if eggs are to be
hatched under hens, give the bloodies
every encouragement. Judgment
siioud be used in this, however. Not
every broody hen can be developed
upon to j>roperly attend to th? work
oc incubation and brooding. Those
which do not possess the proper qualifications
should be broken up and not
in ti us ted with valuable eggs.
The undesirables include such individuals
as are very heavy and clumsy,
those of nervous and excitable temp-irament,
those in poor physical condition.
Hens which are medium 'in
wfight, in good flesh, and which are
^SEAL^AIRTIGHl
air-tight in the patH
ented new conH
tainer. It is always
V Chew fresh toV
bacco. Try Penn's
M next time. Clean?
fresh?sweet.
?? n Guarantee
h
not inclined to go into hysterics on
slight provocation are always to be
. preferred.
Permit the chosen individuals to
i remain on their accustomed nests for
two or three days, distributing them
as little as possible. Treat them
gently; let them get down to business.
Then trasfer them to the nests
ycu wish them to occupy during the
thiee weeks of the period of incubation.
As a rule it is best to make the
tiansfer after dark. Have a few
dummy eggs in the nest so no loss
"'11 /a11A?? :.-f fUn lorline flipir
in luavtt ix miv ?*uivd
I minds. Should ar.y refuse to accept
the situation, return them to the laying
pen and try again. On a second
refusal condemn them to imprison;
ment in the breaking-up coop. Those
; which show their approval by con:
tented ly remaining on the new nests
' may be safely given the eggs they
are to hatch.
The hatching quarters should be so
arranged that the hens will not be
continually disturbed. It is a misi
take to permit hens to sit in the
nests in the laying pens. Other hens
will crowd onto the nests and deposit
i their eggs there, fights will develop,
with the result that eggs will he
, broken and things mixed up generally.
, For individual sitters, smali coops
, or roomy boxes may be fitted up and
located in retiring places. But if any
considerable number of hens pre used,
, a special room or pen should be devoted
to them. Under the latter condition
the nest boxes should be so
; arranged as to permit each hen to
be confined in her particular nest,
i This will prevent fighting and the
; loss which follows when two hens
crowd onto one nest and desert another.
Trap nests are excellent for
, this purpose.
Some Fine Points.
Now a word as to the preparation
of the nest boxes. Make them relatively
shallow so the hens may step
into them and net be compelled to
jump down on the eggs. Deep nests
inevitably cause more or less egg
Lreakage. Have these boxes roomy
enough to permit each hen to spread
out comfortably. Make the nest itself
slightly hollowed so the eggs
will remain under the hen, but not
sufficiently bowl-shaped to cause
them to pile up. For the foundation
a piece of sod, grass side down, is
excellent, as is a shovelful of earth.
On this place a layer of short hay
or straw. Trouble is often caused
1 by nesting material that may bej
come entangled about the legs of the
! birds, as excelsior.
Give each hen as many eggs as she
can comfortably cover, always taking
into consideration the season af
the year. During warm weather more
eggs can be incubated by a hen than
when the temperature is low. From
eleven to fifteen is the accepted range.
It is far better to have a good hatch
frcm thirteen eggs than a poor one
from fifteen.
Under ordinary conditions sitting
hens will leave their nests once a day
to seek food and stretch their legs.
Sometimes we find one that will stick
sc closely to her nest as to nearly
starve herself. Such should be gently
lifted off each day, as a good meal
every twenty-four hours is a necessity.
Where hens are at liberty to leave
their nests at will, food and water
may be' kept before them. But if
they are confined th?y should be
liberated daily, usually at about the
same hour. As a rule they will reI
turn to their nests at the proper
ifii
time, but if som^mne^nSiSTt^oa?
aicund after the others have gone
back to the job, put them back.
Give Plenty of Water.
The daily meal should consist largely
of whole and cracked grains, with
com as the leading ingredient anc
wheat second in quantity. A bit oJ
green food daily will be enjoyed, bul
as this is a laxative it should be fed
sparingly. The water supply is highly
important. Give water in abundance;
have it fresh, cool and clean
Grit is needed toe. Keep a box 01
hopper of it where the birds maj
help themselves at feeding time.
Inspect the eggs each day when the
liens are off the nests. Occasionally
a hen will foul her nest; frequently
an egg gets broken, thus the remaining
eggs are soiled. Clean them as
necessary and replace the nesting
material as conditions demand.
To conserve hen power one may
when starting several hens at the
same time, test the eggs at the enc
of the first week, throwing cut the
infertiles. The fertile eggs may ther
be doubled up under certain hens and
fresh sittings given to as many
broodies as are left without eggs.
At hatching time close up the nest:
to prevent the chicks from falling
out. A stray chide will often call
the hen from an open nest or serious1v
dlfffcnrh nne that is confined. Thf
results arc bad in either case. ?
One final point: Poultry mites anc
lice are often the cause of desertec
nests and poor hatches. See to it
that nest boxes and material are mitt
free, and treat each hen thoroughly
with lice powder. Give an application
before she receives the eggs, another
about a week later, a third
seme three days before the chicks
are due. This means comfort and
that, in turn, closer attention to business
and better hatches.
Send us your orders for job printing
666 cures Malarial Fever.
jfo. K,NGSTREE
Lodgr, Nu 46
A. F.M.
Meets the second Thursday night
in each month. Visiting bretheren
?-j2.il- tt tt w
tu/ UlOllJ LUTIICU* U? uuiyvt) ff <
M., Donald Montgomery, Secretary.
The County Record maintains one
of the most complete and up-to-date
printing offices in this section of the
State, and solicits your patronage foi
Rub-My-Tism. a pain killer.
II i II
-at best dressed man
info world
!He naturally is always the
TAILOR DRESSED MAN.
But he need not be the most
EXPENSIVELY dressed man.
On the contrary, .if he is Royal
Tailored he will be the least expensively
dressed.
On any occasion, the National
I Game or Mrs. Astorbilt's reception;
a Peace Conference or
if 1. n :? /v.+ D.^n^14)k.
iuaxy o \suiuiiig v/uw icuv/T^ut
Royal Tailored man is ALWAYS
becomingly and stylishly dressed?with
this secret satisfaction:
His clothes costs him one-third
to one-half LESS than local
tailors charge. Royal is the
lowest priced FINE tailoring
service in America.
City Tailoring Shop
J. V. EPPS, Manager
Authorized Resident Dealer
NOTICE.
The County Board of Commission
ers of Williamsburg County will re
ceive bids at their office in Kingstree
S. C., on Tuesday, September 6th, anc
on the first Tuesday in each montl
thereafter, for groceries in bulk lot!
for the chaingang for one month at i
time.
S. J. SINGLETARY.
County Supervisor Williamsburg Co
8-18-21-tf.
The County Record is mailed t<
subscribers at $1.50 the year, invaria
bly payable in advance.
k
I^>ZKS
You Know What
"Mansco" I
Made by the Makers *
"Mansco" stands for i
Suits as "Manhat
Get acquainted '
mer Co
McGtll I
Store Fi
Jj KINGSTREE,
I HAVE YOl
jl Miller's Bologi
There is a big demand fo
is hard to equal and car
strictly a home proc
most scientific mar
stock that the big1
ufacturers will
Patronize this 1
by Sending Us
If you have any Fat Catth
sell write or j
I 20c a Pound Pail
I Kingstree Sau;
- W hNv. miller,
! I Kingstree,
5
See The County Record's line of
A
It Means to Wear a Ift ^9
Jnion Suit? II I
af Manhattan Shirts II 1
U
the same in Union ; fl^
tan" in a shirt * I4* 1
m
with this Sum- I I
mfort! 1 I
brothers I 1
SOUTH CAHOLINA 11 j
J TRIED IM
ia Sausage? 11
r this product which J|
l't be beaten. It is
luct, made in a %
iner from local
Western man[
not buy Jl
ou. - I
Some Industy I a
Your Order. 1 m
)hone us. jlf
1 for Fat Hens! I'
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sage Factory I
Proprietor I
South Carolina |L 4
- M
engraved cards and invitations.
mm
_ .