Gilpin observer., 1913-04-17

with hens and with lncuba-
tors knows for himself that the
incubator is to be preferred, for many
reasons. One of these is that it Is
no more trouble to take care of an
incubator holding 200 eggs than it
is % care for two setting hens; and
the incubator is always ready to work,
no matter what time in the year 1t Is
called upon.
The incubator of today is a very
reliable machine, If properly handled.
After long experience l have con-
cluded that most incubators lack in
the way of ventilation. By this
mean that they are not SO ventilated
that the proper quantity of fresh air
gets into the egg-chamber. To over
come this by introducing more fresh
air seems to be rather hard task
in machines, but cooling or airing the
eggs rectifies this defect.
am not a believer in the non-mois
ture feature Of some incubators for
all times and places. When an incu-
bator is operated in a cellar 1t usu-
ally brings off a good hatch without
added moisture, but when operated in
a room above ground, especially in
house where fires are kept up, it is
without doubt better to supply some
moisture after the tenth day.
To be absolutely fair want to add
that l have some excellent results
from a non-moisture incubator operat-
ed under unfavorable conditions. ]
now have and use an incubator which
has a moisture pan in 1t and / have
never had a poor hatch from it.
/ would not hesitate to buy a nom
moisture incubator because one can
be used with moisture almost as cas-
lily as any other machine. would,
however. place a pie-tin filled with
water or a fairly large sponge we'll
wetted, under the egg-drawer about
the tenth day. Again 1t Is often best
to have as many chicks of the same
size and age as possible, as an even
lot sells better than one Of many
sizes.
There are many other reasons why
the incubator Is preferable to the
hen as a Matching machine, but 1t Is
not necessary to go into this. Some
short rules which have been found
good by long experience will be bet
ter than long discussion of the SUBJ
ject and give these below:
Start the incubator and operate it
a few days before putting in the eggs.
This will give the operator famil-
lar knowledge OF the workings of the
machine. Try to keep the tempera-
ture in the egg chamber as near 103
degrees as possible. A variation of
one degree either way will not do any
particular harm.
When you have learned how to keep
a comparatively even temperature put
the eggs in the tray. The tempera-
ture will fall at once. but do not try
to change this by putting on more
heat. The cold eggs cause the fall
in temperature and as soon as they
become warm the temperature will go
back to the proper point.
Learn to keep the lamp fame just
at the place where 1t will furnish
enough heat to keep the regulator
damper about one-eighth OF an inch
above the top of the nue or chimney.
This will give enough surplus heat so
the temperature will keep up during
the night.
Turn the eggs for the first time at
the end of the second day and after
that turn them at least twice a day.
Recent experiments have shown that
a hon changes the position OF her
eggs as many as FIVE times In a day.
II is not necessary that eggs be turned
half over. II they are turned only
part way over the effect will be Just
as good.
Keep the larger end Of each egg a
little higher than the smaller end.
When turning the eggs do not be
in u hurry about getting them back
into the machine. Once a day leave
them out to air and cool off. This
cooling should last from ten to thirty
minutes according To the state Of the
weather.