Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-08
Matching Hints.

Matching Hints.
Too many farmers go to the egg
basket and pick out 13 or Is eggs and
put them under the hen without much
thought or care, and then blame il on
the poor old biddy if the hatch is un-
satisfactory.
In the first place the stock must
be vigorous and the birds must have
been fed in way that will insure a
high percentage of fertility. Given
these primary requisites, the eggs
should be gathered Immediately after
being dropped in clean nests. There
should be no dirt, and water should
never he used on the she'll. 1t may
cause too much moisture. Select eggs
having perfect shells and OF uniform
size. Put them i'm a place not too
warm, still, eggs will not hatch if they
have been chilled. Ii is well TO turn
them every day if they are to be kept
several days before setting. Eggs
should be set as soon as possible after
being laid. Those received from a
distance by express or parcel post
should be allowed to settle" for at
least "a hours before incubation is be-
gun. This allows the delicate germs
to resume their positions.
A good time To test the eggs is the
eleventh day and again about the fif-
teenth. Infertile eggs should be re-
moved. They will make excellent
chick food Spoiled ones will do no
harm to the other eggs if allowed to
remain i'm the nest or incubator. Eggs
must not be disturbed after the
eighteenth day. As little handling as
possible should be the rule from the
81 l4fd Ilx ms
that the hands are clean and dry
when it is necessary to touch the eggs.
The number OF eggs for a single
setting must be determined by the
size of the hen. A number of one
of the larger breeds can easily cover
Is, while il might be desirable to give
a smaller bird three or four less. Pre-
pare good nest, roomy and filled with
dry material. Ii is the nature of the
hen to desire seclusion when she is
setting, therefore have the nest where
other hens will not be liable to intrude
and where nothing will brighten her.
Give the bird dummy eggs for a day
or two and after she seems thorough
~ satisfied gently slip the real eggs un-
der her. Also give the bird nest and
eggs careful busting with insect
powder. Do this two or three times
during the period of incubation and
the chicks will not be badly infested
with lice. A dust bath handy for hen
to use when she is removed for her
daily feed will add greatly to her
health, comfort and contentment.
Corn, grit and some kind of green food
should be given the settlers daily
Carefully remove the birds from
the nests and let them have ample
time for food and exercise. See that
they do not remain off the nest too
long good setter will usually re-
turn to the nest as soon as her hum
ger is satisfied and she has INDUCED
/ in a dust bath This daily airing
helps with the hatch and also keeps
the bird in good condition.
This is the month of the newly
| Matched chicks.
The sitting hen should have things
handy. Whole corn, grit. water and
some dust TO work in every day, will
fill the bill.
If the Matching is to be done with
an incubator, it is important to secure
good, reliable one. A poor machine
will be the cause of much anxiety and
I loss.
BE careful where the machine is
companies will not allow incubators
I in buildings they insure. Better in
vestigate the matter.
good thing, and one that is going
/ to be more common in the near future
than 1t is now, is a fireproof cement
incubator house built in an out-of-the
way place. This. IL properly made,
should be perfectly safe.
But no matter how good the ma
chine may be, II will not do good work
unless attended to.
One thing cannot be overlooked
good. fertile eggs.
To have these, the layers must not
be overcrowded. They must have
good. pure( clean food, and must be
thrifty hens, none Of which are too
old.
Two quarts OF oats boiled I'm
twelve-quart pail will swell till they
nearly fill the pail. Place the pail on
the back Of the stove till morning, and
then mix the oats with an equal
quantity of dry mash. This will fur
nish sixty hens with a palatable and
nutritious breakfast which the fowls
will appreciate and make returns for.