El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-10

IS THE operation Of an incubator
different in the FL Paso country
\ from the operation Of one at other
places? Most emphatically it is. We
have here conditions in many respects
so different from those Of the east that
an expert from that section must learn
his lesson over again If he would De
successful here our nigh' dry clIIIla e
and the wide variance IN eacn "a
hours between highest and lowest tenn
peratures are the chief factors with
which we have to reckon
On account Of the altitude here, the
atmosphere is exceedingly rarifled
and this, in connection with low hu-
nudity, makes evaporation of moisture
from everything 50 great that an egg
for incubation. In a low altitude and
an atmosphere Of high humidity they
can be kept for thirty days and yet
hatch vigorous chicks.
Eggs Must Be Fertile.
The 'sine qua non" IN successful in
cubation is fresh, fertile eggs. 1t IS
easy to have them fertile. but dill
ferent proposition when II comes TO
ness. eggs should be gathered every
day, wrapped carefully IN paper and
placed in a small closed box. this to
prevent evaporation. No egg should
be placed in the machine after it is
ten days old. however careful you may
be in the handling Of it, Every day
while being kept for Incubation every
egg should be carefully turned COM
pletely over. This is easily accom-
plished by keeping them in small boxes
and turning box and all.
Place for the Incubator.
The great desideratum In the loca-
ton Of an incubator is uniformity OF
temperature. This is best attained IN
a cellar or basement. Ordinarily an
Incubator can be operated successfully
IN any place clear Of droughts. but the
in any place Of drafts but the
and Of our days so high that II uni
form1ty OF temperature is not sought
for the location # IS almost impossible
not to have the temperature OF the
egg chamber at times dangerously
high and at other times dangerously
low.
Temperature.
In starting your incubator. never be
IN too great hurry to get your eggs
into il. Take your time and see that
II is running Just right before placing
eggs in It. This will require at least
twenty-fOur hours after first lighting
your lamp. for nothing can be deter
mined until the machine is warmed
through and through See thar your
thermometer stands at exactly 100 de-
grees- Run It at this temperature for
two days and raise It to 103 degrees
and try to never let 1t rise a thou
sandth part OF degree above this
There is much greater danger from
nlgh temperature than from low and
most tncubatOrs are run at too high
temperature. The eggs under an old
hen are frequently chilled, but never
overheated, and nature seems 10 have
provided in an egg a. power OF resist
ance against cold. but did not figure
on the necessity OF a resistance against
a baking The consequence is that the
temperature Of your egg chamber had
better stand at so degrees for two
hours than at ITO degrees for ten min
utes. The hatch would be better and
the chicks more vigorous.
Eggs during the process of f0cIha-
ton should be turned twice every dav
the first thing in the morning and
last thing in the afternOOn-making
the operations about twelve hours
apart To facilitate the turning one
side OF each egg should be marked
with pencil or ink This that YOU
may know when they have All been
turned Have all marked sides up or
all down.
When turning the eggs is good
time to air them and cool them. and
YOU need not be afraid OF COOLING. them
too much. An old hen knows about
this. as she VIII stay off the, nest
sometimes an hOur and yet brine Off
good hatch The temperature OF the
atmosphere should govern the length