The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-30

. series of articles by Harry M. Q
. Lamon, Senior Animal Husband O
. man in Poultry Investigations, Q
. Animal Husbandry Division of Q
. Bureau Of Animal Industry of o
y tho United States Department Of 9
. Agriculture, on the natural and o
8 artificial incubation of hens 9
. eggs. o
. q . o . o Q . o o . o . o . o
N TAKING up the problems of in
cubation, brief study of an egg
will help US to understand the rea-
sons for some of the rules for handling
eggs during incubation. The shell of an
egg is porous, consisting of an outer
and an inner layer, under which are two
membranes, separated at the large end
Of the egg, which form an air cell. This
air space, which is about as large as
l0-cent piece in fresh egg, increases
In size directly in proportion to the
evaporation in the egg. Under these
membranes and surrounding the yolk is
the white, or albumen, which contains
7o-4 per cent of water, 90 per cent of
protein, and 1.6 per cent of mineral
matter. Two coiled membranous lay
ers of dense albumen, called chalazae,
connect tho opposite sides Of the yolk
with each end Of the shell and tend
to lessen its movement and regulate its
position in the egg. The germ spot, or
biastoderm, a semopaque spot from
eighth to onc-sixteenth of an inch
in diameter, is located on tho upper
surface Of the yolk and always remains
uppermost in tho egg.
Caro- Of Eggs for Hatching.
Strong, fertile eggs arc tho prime
essential in coed Matching; these ara
obtained only from stock properly
mated and kept under tho best possible
conditions to secure health and vigor.
Eggs from over-fat breeding stock do
not usually produce large percentage
Of strong chicks. If breeders are con-
fined, they should be fed varied sup
ply of grains, meat and green feed.
The green feed assists in keeping fowls
IN good breeding condition. Free range
is usually an important factor in the
production Of hatchable eggs, as it is
much easier to keep up the vitality of
stock handled in this manner than in
birds that are yarded. From 5 to II
females OF the American or general
purpose class and II to Is of the Medi-
terranean class can be mated with one
male, depending on his age and vitality
and where the fowls are yarded, but
this proportion may be increased where
the birds have free range. Abundant
ventilation in the house is also great
help in keeping the stock in good breed.
ing condition.
Eggs to Be Discarded.
Abnormal, small, and poorly shaped
eggs should be discarded. Do not set
eggs which have thin or very porous
shells. Eggs should be set
when fresh, if possible, and it is not
advisable to use eggs for Matching
which arc over two weeks old, although
stale eggs will frequently hatch. Sc
lecting uniformly large eggs for hatch
ing, which are of the same color, is one
of the quickest ways to secure uniform
ity in the offspring and increase the
size of the eggs. Dirty eggs should be
cleaned by rubbing lightly with damp
cloth, but care should be taken not to
rub off any more of the natural bloom
Of the egg than is absolutely neces-
sary. Duck eggs usually require wash
ing, which does not appear to injure
their .atching qualities. Eggs for
hatching should be collected two or
sJree times day in freezing weather
% prevent chilling. Broody hens al
owed to sit on eggs in the laying nests
Ill day may hurt the Matching qualities
If the eggs. Eggs in large numbers are
generally kept in cabinet or turning
'ack, for convenience in handling, in a
'oom where the temperature is between
10 degrees and go degrees F., if pos
'ible, although they will stand consid
,rable variation. 1t is not necessary to
urn eggs kept only for few days, but
t is advisable to turn eggs daily which II
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