The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
10 GET GOOD CHICKS
:::USE ONLY BEST EGGS
Incubator should Have Choice
and Culls May Go to
q
Market.
CARE NEEDED IN HANDLING
Attention to Condition Of the
Flock Will Increase
80, Production.


~ PROF. r. NJ BTONEDURN.
No part Of the work Of the pouitrymar
y more interesting to the average man
or woman than that which has to dc
With the Matching OF the chicks. There 1.
q mystery, a wonderful fascination, which
never passes away. about the converting
OF eggs into beautiful little creatures
which inherit certain characteristics thai
will later become apparent.
Much OF the success OF the process OF
Incubation depends upon the eggs used
1t is true that all eggs produced by our
domestic fowls are much alike. similar
In chemical composition and construction
But they are not alike. not OF equal
value. when considered from the stand
point Of their hatchability. Apparently
this fact In not thoroughly understood
Too many poultry raisers. especially be-
sinners, are content to MI their tncu-
bators or nests with any old eggs. That
this IL poor judgment may quickly he
demonstrated by comparing the results
secured in this way with others obtained
where none but selected eggs are used.
The following little enecdote may serve
to illustrate the mental attitude OF a
large class Of unobservant people. A
gentleman once gave q basket Of doubt
ckk8 W = WOThuldus al tno bdiuS
time explaining that he feared some of
them were bad. But they were gratefully
accepted by Uncle Ben. who replied: "Oh
dat don't make no difference. boss.
aln't gwine to eat 'em-dey's for settin'.
Consider for moment the following
Eggs are worth money. One may choose
between selling them or placing them
In the incubator. Every egg incubated
must be charged against the cost of the
hs-nnd ff xhicka GONd htYaipe n
Judgment, then. dictates that mono but
suitable eggs should be used for incubat'
ing. otherwise the cost of each chick Is
unreasonRbly high. 1t IL doubtful econ
o0y to put q lot Of poor eggs Into the
incubator merely to fill II to Its capacity
Far better to operate q half filled ma
chine. using only the suitable eggs and
marketing the others.
In order to mako . success in the
poultry business one must consistently
raise n gOodly flock Of chicks each year
Good chicks arc required. and such are
secured only 'fsom. eggs of tho right sort
Gull out the unft at the start and devote
your attcatson solely to those which are
right In every respect.
To a very large degree the quality oi
the eggs-considered soely with reference
to their value for incubating-is deter
mined by the stock which produces them
The characteristics Of ideal breeding birds
were discussed in the preceding article IL
this SERIES Physical perfection. health
visor. activity. full maturity. arc all -.
sentials. 1t ID also necessary TO use a
breeders birds possessing those qualities
We wish 20 intensity In the progeny.
But there are other important factors
which have to do with the production
Of the best Matching egs. The method
OF management exerts 4 great influence
The bsseding Dock should be kept &C.
A.h- -
Free range solves this question. Where
Il 10 necessary to keep tho birds confined
thsy should be fed In deep litter In order
that they will be induced to spend much
OF their time scratching for the concealed
oraaa.
Heavy feeding n mash sons to injur,
the Matching qualities OF eggs. and the
BREEDERS shouid. receive less mash thar
the layers and have their scratch feed
correspondinsiy increased. This state
ment may be questioned by some. but the
experience OF the writer clearly indicate.
that II is true.
u 10 not wise to use for breeding pur
poses hens which have been laying heavil,
for q considerable period Of time. Such
hens are very likely to be in q rather
low state of vitality owing to the strair
they have been under and their chick,
will seldom be up to the necessary stand
ard OF visUr. Anything which adversel!
affects the vigor Of the mother has
decidedly bed effect on her young. Thil
explains why many careful poutrymen BE
1ect their breeding hens In the fall ant
keep them on limited rations during tn
winter in order that they shall not begii
egg production before the eggs are needet
for Matching.
The male birds should have special At
tsntion. The gallant males often fail q
eat enough to keep themselves In goo'
AeGA and vigorous condition. permitting
the hens To have most Of the food. ON
often observes that such males call thei
mates whenever they md anything to eat
Under such conditions these gentlemanl!
fellows should daily be plsced in small
ooops separated from the hOds, and givel
. full meal
Even under ideal conditions . certain
b marketed. Extra large ana small eGE
sihould be disposed Of. Also those whcl
are not normal in every way, Eggs witt
mottled shells, clear In certain spots an
thiok In others. are usually tnfertils o
viii fail to hatch satisfactorily. Sometime
eges will become coated with mud or nit
to such an extent that the pores IN tn
be discarded. This does not refer I
ordinary soilins. ~ the latter may b
wiped of with . damp cloth and sue
ss9s prove satisfactory.
Select for incubating the eggs which ar
large without being diversified. A. q rul
the heaviest and best chicks come fror
eggs of this kind. and heavy chick
usually make the best and most rspi
development II will be observed that egs
produced in February and March averas
more In weight than later In the seaso
and this may explain why early hatcne
chicks are usually superior physician
10 those which come later.
Set the eggs while they are fresh IN
fresher the better. The germ II q oeii
cate thing after all. and In the course Q
time II dies unless subjected to the neces
sary decree Of heat to cause It to develop
THE process OF deterioration In continu
Gus IN stored eggs and the quicker tn
ME giving heat Ii applied the better IN
results are likely to be.
OF course. II 10 not possible un1sr aver
age conditions to use nothing but anso
.iutely fresh eggs for incubafinS. Tn
Limitations Of Incubator equipment an
the number Of eggs produced daily pre-
vent this Therefore II 10 usually neces
sary to hold . certain proportion OF tn
eggs for longer or shorter periods. Jus
how long It In safe 20 hold them 10 har
TO say. But they may be stored In sue
a manner AZ to prevent to considerabl
Qegree the rapid weakening Of the germ
The best storage room 10 ono having
fairly constant temperature OF approx
mately 50 degrees. Rather lower tina
SlShar .ho,,lN - Nlsan and nor