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Classic
Cook Books
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page 270
upon as profitable. Some fine young fowls should be reared every year, to keep
up a stock of good breeders; and by this attention, and removing bad layers and
careless nurses, you will have a chance of a good stock.
Let the hens lay some time before you set them, which should be done from the
end of February to the beginning of May. While hens are laying, feed them well,
and sometimes with oats.
Broods of chickens are batched all through the summer, but those that come out
very late require much care till they have gained some strength.
If the eggs of any other sort are put under a hen with some of her own, observe
to add her own as many days after the others, as there is a difference in the
length of their sitting. A turkey and duck sit thirty days. Choose large clear
eggs to put her upon, and such a number as she can properly cover. If very large
eggs, there are sometimes two yolks, and of course neither will be productive.
Ten or twelve are quite enough.
A hen-house should be large and high; and should be frequently cleaned out, or
the vermin of fowls will increase greatly. But hens must not be disturbed while
sitting; for if frightened, they sometimes forsake their nests. Wormwood and rue
should be planted plentifully about their houses: boil some of the former, and
sprinkle it about the floor; which should be of smooth earth, not paved. The
windows of the house should be open to the rising sun: and a hole must be left
at the door, to let the smaller fowls go in; the larger may be let in and out by
opening the door. There should be a small sliding board to shut down when the
fowls are gone to roost; which would prevent the small beasts of prey from
committing ravages, and a good strong door and lock may possibly, in some
measure, prevent the depredations of human enemies.
When some of the chickens are hatched long before the others, it may be
necessary to keep them in a basket of wool till the others come forth. The day
after they are hatched, give them some crumbs of white bread, and
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