Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-11

uoWH as Hiuch as they ought. the
closed machine began to get hot, and
the regulator had to be turned down
every day. At Matching time, the
open machine gave 80 per
cent. hatch and so per cent. dead
in the shell. The closed ma
chine gave 20 per cent. hatch and 10 per
cent. dead in the SHE'LL There were no
cripples in either hatch, due, 1 think,
to the condition of the stock-probably
| in breeding. 1t may come from the i'm
proper turning, Or rather want of turn
ing, but as some of the most careful
men have them, do not think that is.
the trouble. Only a few failed to get
loose after piping the she'll eeI l
| We have had the driest time known
in IS years, and the cellar IS dry, with.
a cement floor; still the closed ma
chine, which dried out all of the Tnois-s
ture, gave best results. Neither set of
Ieggs were cooked, except for the min
ute or two in turning. Years ago every.
machine had moisture pans; now none,
have them. Some people do not cool
the eggs any more, and get good results,
Some people do not ventilate any
more, and get good matches. A neigh
Dor put so eggs In small machine and
closed it up. The results were eggs
infertile 20 spring chicks, two more
feeble ones, one dead at ten days, and,
one dead in the shell. Another unventi-
lated machine gave 81 per cent. of the
fertile eggs
1t would seem from this that the
passage of the heated air through the;
machine back to the lamp was venti-
lation enough for the health of the
chicks while in the SHE'LL Who knows
that there is any passage of air in Or,
out through the shells, or that any foul
air would injure them? From the fact
that a dead germ will cause a foul
smell I'm the machines, l should think
the scent came out of instead of into
the egg. There is no breathing or use
of the lungs, for a long time at least,
and no air is necessary. OF one thing
I am quite sure-that is, the liquid in
the egg, IA per cent. of which is water,
must be dried out or absorbed in order
to have the chicks not glued fast in
the thickeped paste. The largest
matches are the healthiest and easiest
raised-one proof that the best way to
get great results is the best way to get
strong chicks. The eggs came from
strong, sound, selected stock which
runs at large and has had a complete
change of males every spring for five
years. I am not sure that ventilation
has anything to do with dying in the
SHE'LL" and do not know the cause, but
the closed machine did the best.
What is the proper prooder heat?
Ninety were put in a large 3 by 81
brooder, and the heat put up to 100 de-
grees before the chicks were put in, to
prevent too decided a change. 1t was
SO large that the temperature was
down to 20 degrees in the far end next
exit. A dry goods box was attached to
the brooder, and they were fed in that.
After a few days they were warmed
only nights, and did nicely.
Ninety more were put in IL by s.
foot brooder and treated the same. The |
small broOder was equally hot at both |
ends, and the chicks did not have a
chance to select their temperature, but |
had aasx for feeding outside just the |
same. They would run out of the |
warmer air into the box to eat, and |
feeling chilly would soon hurry back. |
They became accustomed to hot |
iooIii, dib tciuSht Nolo IL IolICN ouI III |
it. Bowel complaint caused by their |
colds killed half of them, while the |
others kept well.
A neighbor put cloth over small !
box and put 25 in it. They are now
four weeks old and he has 25 yet. They |
have had no heat whatever, except |
their own, which, when confined fl |
small box, is sufficient. He says: |
People bake their chicks" He may |
be right, but hundred put in n box |
that way would smother each other. |
We have had no wet weather or cold |
nights to speak of. / think one rainy |
afternoon. wet chicks and frosty |
night would furnish another tale.
Whatever the heat you think best |
(ahove the point which will prevent |
bunching) get to it az soon as possible, |
after the first day. without too sudden |
q change, and educate them to eXcr- |
else for heat. | like q broOder which |
will give so degrees in one end and Is |
degrees in the other, and think well |
chick will select the temperature best |
suited for 1t. To get such n brOoder, l |
made one with the heat in one end and |
an opening in the other to admit cold |
air. A feed box Is attached, and at |
two weeks Of age they are let into |
yards on the ground.
The gapes are conspicuous by their |
absence. Oother years the only way |
we could raise n single chick was to |
keep them confined to house or yard |
so covered with grass that no angle |
worms could be obtained. This year |
there has been no rain for two months, |
and no worms. The chicks run where |
they will, and not q single case has |
occurred to date, but If ever 1t does
rain again, they go into grassy en-
closures on high, dry ground, as free |
from worms as possible.
We feed "chick food consisting of (
ground grains, seeds and homes, for |
three weeks, and nothing else. They did |
we'll during that time, and then began |
to stand around" nothing in particu- |
lar the matter, but every morning three !
or four would be dead. 1t seemed Ike |
indigestion and constipation. One |
kind of food constantly is not best. |
We made cake of ground corn meal, |
wheat bran, oats and some meat meal, |
all mixed with water, and baked hard. |
Tbo,o x.yae 1pci6e5 a. /