Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-08

while developing Eggs during incuba-
ton should always he kept on the side
while handling as we'll as in the egg
trays. There is a good reason for this
precaution. When placed on end the
weight of the embryo chick is all on one
thread. which is liable to break and en-
danger its life 1t is therefore reason
able to suppose that these threads may
be better kept intact at all stages by
keeping the egg on its side. This may
be one reason why eggs shipped long dis
tances are less liable to hatch as we'll
though they may he fertile They are
packed by standing on the small end,
rendering them less liable to breakage
These questions pertaining to the keep
ing and care of eggs held for incubation
should be settled by authorities in a man
ner that would keep prominent writer's
on poultry subjects from presenting con-
trary views. There are enough things
for them to discuss and debate If funda-
mental principles are established beyond
reach of their versatile pens This much
consideration is due the beginner in poul-
try culture.
We wish TO make reference in this
connection to a course now being pur-
sued by increasing numbers of breeders
in order to secure a higher percentage
of fertility in eggs. This Is the plan OF
having two males head pen and alter
mating them. Even breeders of the fancy
are practicing It, and Mr. Kellerstrass
states that he employed it last seas6l
OF course males Of the same blood lines
and as nearly alike as possible should be
used for the same pen The law Of nat
ural selection causes some females to re-
fuse to mate with some males, and by
giving them two to choose from their
natural prejudice is largely overcome.
Larger pens can be mated up in this man
ner If desired than If the two males ran
together when one is always an insult
ferable and arrogant boss and makes life
miserable for the other The females are
never well served with two males in the
pen at the same time. BY alternating
each can he fed separately. secure extra
attention and vigor be preserved, as it
sometimes happens that a cock bird is so
gallant he will refuse to eat until his
mates are fed. A good roomy coop can
be fastened up from the floor on the side
OF the pen to hold the cock not in use
Try this plan and you will secure much
stronger fertility.
Sometimes IT seems very easy to secure
fertile eggs by the most Indifferent meth
DDS But 1t is not safe to follow indiffer-
ent methods in anything connected with
poultry keeping AS an Illustration !
will relate an incident in my own expe-
rience some years ago. one season | had
about one hundred hens running at large
kept for egg purposes ! also had a pet
Barred Rock cock Matched from eggs
purchased of the late M S. Gardner He
was trained to do several tricks such as
jumping through your hands, etc had
him until he died natural death for his
trick accomplishments During the year
referred to he was three years old and
ran with the one hundred hens as their
only male companion. one OF the hens
stole her nest and made 1t on the ground
In an adjoining meadow When cutting
the hay the machine ran over the nest
soaring of the hem which caused her dis
covery There were eleven eggs in the
nest just Matching The hen went back
and Matched out every egg and the chicks
were all strong and vigorous. Think OF
one male with a hundred hens, avery egg
fertile and every fertile egg Matching, -
one hundred per Gem in each case-Poul
try Advocate.