The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-04-25
q much larger numbers than with

In much larger numbers than with
hens. The broody hens can be broken
up and will soon go to laying again.
Not the least among the advantages of
the incubator is the fact that the
chicks will be free from lice when
hatched
There are two general types of incu-
bators. the hot air and the hot water
machines The heat in the hot air
machine Is furnished by currents Of
warm air which circulate around the
egg chamber and in the hot water ma
chine by hot water circulating through
metal pipes The hot air machine is
simpler and generally gives better sat-
isfactiOn
The two most important points to
consider in buying an incubator are
the lamp and the regulator. since upon
the efficiency Of these depends the
maintenance Of constant tempera-
ture in the egg chamber. The lamp
and chimney should be Of heavy metal
The reservoir should hold enough oil
for twenty-eight to thirty hours run.
The burner should be of brass. with a
cotton wick which fits snugly and .'et
works easily. 1t Is important to use
the highest grade Of oil that can be
obtained. as a steady heat cannot be
maintained with cheap oil
The function Of the regulator is to
raise or lower a valve over the lamp,
thus lessening or increasing the amount
Of hot air that goes into the machine.
or all the many kinds Of regulators
none works more satisfactorily than
the double disk type The disks shorld
be four or five inches across II
smaller they are not sensitive enough
The regulator should be placed toward
the back part of the egg chamber aud
high enough so that it will be we'll up
out of the way. Avoid incubatorS
that have the regulator lever on top Of
the machine. Such a lever is always
in the way and is liable to be bent or
displaced. A machine that has the
lever at the end or under false tor
is much more satisfactory. There is
nothing in the way on top. and it can
be used as table for testing. turn
ing and cooling eggs.
The body of the incubator should be
made of we'll fitted hard wood. with
three walls and two dead air spaces
so as to be as little affected by the
outside Temperature as possible. The
legs should be strong and firmly It
tached The doors should be Of double
glass. The egg trays should Slide
easily, and there should be nj le 81
three and half inches clearance r."
tween the eggs and the to, of the
chamber The nursery below the tra 1
should he at least four inches deep
This lower space is needed for t'it
newly hatched chicks. This nurs, y
is sometimes made to slide out like ;
drawer. This is a great convenience
in removing the chickens
4 small hole covered with a remova
ble slide will provide all the ventila
ton needed in addition to that obtain
cd when the doors are open for turn
in- the eggs. A wet sponge kept IN
der the egg trays will usually furniSl
| sufficient moisture. The amount o
| moisture needed can be determined 10y
| the size Of the air cell in the big enc
| of the egg. If this gets TO he mnr,
| than oneff.h the size of the egg NOR,
moisture should lie supplied
| Handling the Incubator.
There is no better place for the in
cubator than clean dry cellar. 1
should lie run empty for at least {
day before the eggs are put in. SO Il:
to get the fame and regulator adjust
ed The flame should be clean an(
bright and the regulator set so as t,
maintain constant temperature O
100 F.
1t takes day or two to get the egg
warmed up after they are put in. Il!
the third day the thermometer shoult
be up to 103 and should be kept thcr,
the rest of the time. The eggs shuuit
be tested the third day and infected o
dead ones taken out The eggs shoult
be turned every morning until til
nineteenth day This can be done b,
rolling them over with the hand o
placing another tray over them ant
turning them completely over Afte
turning they should be left out ten o
fifteen minutes to cool. After the nine