The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
THE SELECTION AND HANDLING
OF EGGS FOR MATCHING
Fresh, Perfect Eggs From
Vigorous Stock Required
BY EDWIN MEGARGEE

by EDWIN MEGARGEE
The first essential of successful incuba-
ton is eggs of the proper quality. 1t is
a waste of time and money to fill the in
cubator with inferior eggs or to give such
TO sitting hens, and the poultryman who
ignores this fact is bound to be disap-
pointed and disgusted with the resulting
hatch.
Professor Stoneburn gives herewith
some information regarding the selection
and care of Matching eggs, which should
be of great value to every one who plans
to hatch chicks this season.
Copyright, 1914, by Geo. A. McDevitt Coz
BY Prof. Frederick H. Stoneburn.
K To part of the work of the poultry
N man is more interesting to the
l average man or woman than that
which has to do with the Matching of
the chicks. There is a mystery, Won
derful fascination, which never passes
away about the converting of eggs into
beautiful little creatures which inherit
certain characteristics that will later be-
come apparent
4 Much of the success of the process of in
cubation depends upon the eggs used. 1t
is true that all eggs produced by our do
nestle fowls are much alike, similar in
chemical composition and construction.
But they are not alike, not of equal value,
when considered from the standpoint Of
their hatchability. Apparently this fact
is not thoroughly understood Too many
poultry raisers, especially beginners, are
content to fill their incubators or nests
with any old eggs. That this Is poor
Judgment may quickly be demonstrated
by comparing the results secured in this
way with others obtained where none but
selected eggs are used.
The following little anecdote may serve
ba faI oti do of Ia rpa
class of unobservant people. A gentle
man once gave a basket of doubtful
eggs to n workman, at the same time ex-
planning 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. / amt gwine to
eat 'em-dey's for settin'."
Market Inferior Eggs
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 re-
sulting brood of chicks. Good business
judgment, then, dictates that none but
suitable eggs should be used for incubat-
ing, otherwise the cost of each chick is
unrea asonably high. 1t is of doubtful
aconomy to put a lot of poor eggs into
the incubator merely to fill it to its capac-
ity. Far better to operate half-filled
machine, using only the suitable eggs and
marketing the others.
In order to make success in the poul-
try business one must consistently raise
T a goodly flock of chicks each year. Good
chicks are required, and such are secured
only from eggs of the right sort. Gull out
the unfit at the start, devote your atten-
tion solely to those which are right in
every respect.
= To a very large degree the quality of the
eggs-considered solely with reference to
their ~1alue of incubating-is determined
by the stock which produces them The
characteristics of ideal breeding birds
} We're discussed in the preceding article
in this series. Physical perfection, health,
yfgor activity, full maturity. are all es-
sentials. 1t is also necessary to use as
breeders birds possessing those qualities
We wish to intensity in the progeny
But there are other important factors
which have to do with the production of
the best Matching eggs. The method of
management eXerts a great influence.
The breeding flock should be kent active
induced to take plenty of exercise. Free
range solves this question. Where it is
necessary TO keep the birds confined they
should be fed in deep litter in order that
they will be induced to spend much of
their time scratching for the concealed
grain Heavy feeding of mash seems to
injure the Matching qualities of eggs, and
the breeders should receive less mash
than the layers and have their scratch
seed correspondingly increased. This
statement may be questioned by some, but
the experience of the writer clearly indi-
Gates that 1t is true.
Vitality of Breeding Birds
1t is not wise to use for breeding pur-
poses hens which have been laying heav-
lily for considerable period of time. Such
hens are very likely to be in a low state
of vitality. owing TO the strain they have
been under. and their chicks will seldom
be up to the necessary standard of vigor
Anything which adversely affects the
vigor of the mother has a decidedly bad
effect on her young. This explains why
many careful poultrymen select their
breeding hens in the fall and keep them
on limited rations during the winter in
order that they shall not begin egg pro-
duction before the eggs are needed for
Matching.
The male birds should have special at
tention. The gallant males often fail 1,
eat enough TO keep themselves i'm good
flesh and vigorous condition, permitting
the hens TO have most of the food One
often observes that such males call their
mates whenever they find anything to
eat. Under such conditions these gem
tlemanly fellows should daily be placed
in small coops, separated from the flock
and given full meal.
Even under ideal conditions a certa in
proportion of the eggs produced should
be marketed. Extra large and small eggs
should be disposed of. Also those which
are not normal in every way. Eggs with
mottled shells. clear in certain spots and
thick in others, usually infertile or
will fail to hatch satisfactorily Some |
times eggs will become coated with mud
or filth to such an extent that the pores