Dust the hen thoroughly with insect powder, holding her by the feet with the head down and working the powder well into the feathers.
A powder should also be sprinkled in the nest. The nest should be in some manner, out-of-the-way place where the hen will not be disturbed. Move her from the regular laying nest at night and handle her carefully in doing so. Put a china egg in the nest where she is to sit, and place a board over the opening so that she cannot get off.
Toward evening of the second day, go in quietly where she is sitting, leave the board from the front or top of the nest and let the hen come off when she is ready. Should she return to the nest after feeding, remove the china egg or eggs and put under those that are to be incubated. If the nests are slightly darkened, the hens are less likely to become restless. At hatching time, they should be confined and not be disturbed until the batching is completed unless they become restless, when it may be best to remove the chicks that are hatched first. In cool weather, it is best not to put more than ten eggs under the hen. Later in the spring, one can put 12 to 15, according to the size of the hen.
How to Ship Hatching Eggs. 