The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-03-28


that the temperature is way too low
and the damper has been raised,
loosen the thumb screw again and let
the damper down as before. Leave
about a quarter inch play. On re-
turning the second time the tempera-
ture is likely to be found up some
where around ninety degrees. In that
case it is best to he a little cautious.
If the disc has not been raised, in
crease the flame trifIe and leave the
regulator alone. If the disc damper
is up, lower it and this time leave
only an eighth of an inch play. Re
peat this process until the thermOm-
eter stands at 102 degrees when the
thermometer bulb is even with the top
of the eggs and the disc is a quarter
Of an inch above the heater. Then
leave the machine alone for at least
twelve hours to see whether it can
maintain thestemperat1re.
If it is all right put in the eggs and
do not open the machine for two days
Take care of the lamp in the morning
SO that if the flame runs up it will
do so in the day time when it will be
discovered at least by noon Wipe OF
scrape away carefully any charring
of the wick and leave the lamp per
fectIy clean. Do not fill the lamp too
full and if any oil is spilled see that
the last traces of II are removed.
After couple of days take the trays
out and place them On table and
shuttle the eggs gently with the
hands. See that every egg is moved.
1t is not necessary that they be
turned clear over. A hen turns her
eggs as many as five time day. We
should turn them at least three, morn
ing, noon and night. Before putting
the trays back into the machine turn
them end for end. If one side of the
machine is cold, this will give all the
eggs the same chance and bring an
evener hatch. If there are two trays,
change them from side to side every
other time you turn the eggs, turning
them from end to end the other times.
Always look at the machine before re-
turning to see that everything is all
right. If the heat ever runs up, cool
the eggs thoroughly at once. If done
promptly, this often serves to save a
hatch that has been 0xerheated. The
eggs should always be handled and
put back into the machine before the
lamp is touched. Any kerosene from
the hands getting On the eggs may
seriously injure the hatch. If the tenn
peTatuTe is of at any time, the regu-
lator should be adjusted before the
door Of the machine is opened The
door once open you can't tell anything
about the temDerature
The eggs should be tested on the
sixth day unless the eggs are very
dark shelled, when it will be neces
! sary to wait until the seventh or
eighth before the germ can be seen.
If a dark spider-like object is seen
which floats about when the egg is
revolved in the fingers, the egg is
alive If it is perfectly clear. it is
infertile.
The temperature siould be left
at 102 degrees the first week. Then
it should go to 103 degrees, where it
should remain until the eggs begin to
pip. 1t should then be kept at 1O315
to 104 degrees. 1t should not go be-
low 103 or above los while the chicks
are Matching. Do not open the ma
chine after the eggs begin to pip I'M
til the hatch is well over. Watch the
/ temperature closely, for the chicks
give off considerable heat and the
temperature may run up Too great
a change will be fatal TO the hatch.
Allow, the chicks to remain in the ma
chine without food or water for forty
eight hours. 1t takes this long for
| them to use up the yolk material.
If the eggs have run strong in fer
tlIity and start to hatch well and fol
some reason become checked, the rest
may sometimes be brought out by lay
ing over them a wooden blanket
wrung In hot water. Any chick helped
out OF the shell in any way should be
marked and never used as breeder