Milford chronicle., 1914-04-03

Correct incubation IS a SUBJECT tha' uS
mands the careful attention OF every
poultryman and well it might, for wnen
Understood it will enable the oreeder 70
greatly increase his profits. Inns IS true
from several standpOints, Tor win pro
Der incubation naturally goes oroodlns,
and the breeder is consequently enabled
not only to build up healthy ana VlgoI-
Gus flock Of birds, but also good laying
strain. thus increasing his prohts from
both branches Of the industry. !,
The season of the year has arrived
when most breeders turn their attention
m the incubation of eggs, having mated
their birds earlier in the year. As
matter Of fact, many have already sue
ceeded in getting out quiet few Or0ous
of little downy fellows that are wen on
their way toward brollers. .-
Afterall, early Matching IS what counts
in poultry raising for commercial pur-
poses as well as for exhibition. 10 those
who were not prepared to hatch chickens
during the extremely cold weather, oW
ing to lack of facilities, It might De salu
that there is still time to get the young
sters out in plenty Of time for Doth pur-
Bv mating birds early in the year one
is enabled to get a large quantity OF
chicks out in sufficient time to prevent
Matching during the extremely warm
months. This also gives the youngsters
a chance to get beyond their chick stage
before the hot weather sets in, which Is
usually the cause of heavy mortality
among them.
But the above advantages are not the
only ones to be gained by early hatch-
ing. An important consideration IS that
il enables the breeder to produce broil-
ers and fryers at a time when the market
is at its height, when large profits natur-
allv result from sales. They produce
the birds that will be the backbone OF
the plant during the following fall and
forepart of winter when the last year s
or hold-over stock is inactive. Fall and
winter eggs are what really count in the
raising Of poultry on purely CONNER
cial basis-it's the man who can supply
eggs when they are at premium tnat
realizes the largest profits from ms
fiocks. Early Matched pullets supply the
eggs during the off season.
Of course, it is true that in many cases
the hold-over stock will also produce
eggs during the fall and early winter =
in some instances they will even yield
more than the early matured pullets,
particularly if the birds have moulted
early and receive theirne coat Of teath-
ers during the early fall. but this IS by
nomeans the general condition Of affairs.
Taking all things into consideration,
and weighing carefully the merits OF
early and late matches, it can readily be
seen with the convincing proof that IS
offered, that beyond the question OF a
doubt. it's the man that matches early
who reaps the greater benefits and pro-
fit from eggs during the fall and winter
period.
Getting birds out early is equally i'm
portant to the man who raises poultry
from the standpoint Of fancy for they
must be sufficiently matured and in con
ditiOn for exhibition at the fall fairs
and early winter shows if he wants then
to be in running for the coveted pre-
miums.
Going back to the subject of early in
cubation, let it be said that one must b'
reasonably well equipped, else it woulC
be better to delay a little until after the
severest part of the winter has safely
passed, relying entirely upon proper
feeding and care to keep the youngsters
growing and developing. If you were
not so fortunate as to be well enough
equipped to hatch your birds during
February, or even during March. so as
to have finished your years incubation
by the first of April, there is still time
to accomplish this task.
Where to place the incubator is OF
vital impOrtance-it has a great deal tC
do with successful matches even though
the eggs may all be strong in fertility.
A good place to operate the patented
mother is a we'll ventilated and compar-
itively well-lighted cellar. In manipu-
lating the machine, no matter what
make it may be, never try to expert
ment Follow closely the instruction:
furnished by the manufacturer unless
YOU can afford to lose many chicks oil
spoil the matches. Remember. the mar
who placed the machine on the market
had it tested thoroughly and his patent
has been tried out prior to offering the
article for sale-it's dollars to dough.
nuts that you will have greater success
if the directions for its use are followed
to the letter than if operated according
to your personal Judgment and ideas.
Do not use the eggs from your breed
ing pens until the cock bird has remained
with the females for at least ten days
On the other hand. never mate birds
that have been laying steadily during
the winter as the percentage of hatch
will be greatly reduced and the vitality
of the chicks will be impaired by thi:
method. Rather, select females for YOU
matings that have been practically in
active for a period, yet at the same time
in the pink Of condition.
All eggs to be used for incubation
should be kept at from As to 60 degree!
Fahrenheit, never subjected to eithel
high or low temperatures. 1t is goOC
plan to turn the eggs at least once day
while holding them for incubation.
In order that it may be properly regu
lated, the incubator should be thoroughly
tested prior to placing the eggs in it
Never place eggs in the machine unit
it has been run for at least three days
On the seventh day of incubation al
eggs in the machine should be carefully
removed and tested for fertility-thos,
not fertile should be removed. Should