Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-09-27
POULTRY RA|SERS
Do lncuhators Give Better Satisfac-
ton Than We olde Tyne
Hens?


than Matching time. Most breeders
set out to rear given quantity Of
chicks, either because their place will
carry SO many, or that they think
the selection will be better when the
slow season starts. Whatever 1t may
be, much depends upon the way the
chickens may be coming out. whether
in good numbers or only in small
quantities OF course no one can ex-
pect chickens from clear eggs, but
even when these are fertile the young
sters do not always come out For
this there are many reasons. When
natural means are used the hen may
not sit as she should do, and just
when she might be bringing off the
chicks, she leaves the nest and the
whole batch is spoilt During the early
part of the season there is the danger
of the hens doing this When they
are first put down, the weather may
be mild and open, yet, before the
time is up frost and snow may have
set in, and this will often make hens
restless If not give up the nest alto
gether. When artificial means are
used there are also many things that
will cause a poor hatch. Probably the
eggs have not been turned in proper
order, or the heat may have varied
too much to give successful result.
A faulty capsule, an unreliable lamp
or an unsuitable place for the incu-
bator, will be more or less spoil an
otherwise good hatch of eggs.
While much can be done by the
method of working, it is essential
however, that the machine shall be
of first-class make. There are plenty
on the market that have stood the
test Of time and any beginner or old
hand, for that matter, had better sup
ply himself with one such machine
than trust to chance with one not
well-known catalogue from either
of the leading makers win give the
make and mechapism of their incuba-
tor, and the variest novice can see
for himself what are the salient fea-
lures needed for successful Matching.
The wood must be well seasoned, 50
that it VIII not warp, owing to the
heat of the machine. Should the
wood dry, cracks develop and the heat
escapes, which the packing cannot
possibly control This system of
padding or packing the egg drawer
and bank Is to keep all the heat cen
tered in the one direction, and there
is no firm OF the repute that will not
attend TO this important detail. The
success of the machine depends on
this, sometime sthe body of the ma
chine will be sound but the egg draw
ev will not fit close up though warp
in the wood, and this allows the heat
to escape, which no extra lamp heat
can make up.
Points to be Observed.
Having got the body and make of
one machine all right see that the
cap.'ule is working properly. If the
Thermometer works accurately it will
socn Indicate anything wrong. The
capsule is made of sensitized metal in
which is inclosed some ether, and as
soon as this reaches the boiling point
it begins to expand, which raises the
cap over the lamp and thus allows the
heat to come out that way instead of
excessive heat going into the machine.
The lamp must be kept clean by using
only the best oil, and having the prop
err wick. It is not enough to see a
bright light, but the light must be
steady and free from smoke. Bad oil
will cause soft to accumulate in the
heat tubes, and. unless these should
be cleaned at the beginning of the
season. and if the lamp is not allowed
to smoke will not need any further
attention during the year The water
tank should always be emptied at the
end of the season, and in filling it
watch for the leakage.
An important Feature.
A brief study of the price list sent
out by such firms will help the novice.
for in addition to giving the prices OF
the various appliances, those catalog-
ues are really books of Information
on all that appertains to the poultry
yard No one branch receives so
much attention as the incubator, and,
though much is said against ire use
OF such machine, a mere beginner
car run one if he follows the direc-
tiopa given herein.