The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1914-02-01
Poultry Department
TIMELY TOPICS.

the space at our command but the
most important points may be consid-
cred. To begin with; it is not bad
Idea to take it for granted that the
manufacturer of the new incubator
you have just purchased knows more
about operating it than you do, or
your wisest neighbors. So give him
chance. Run the machines
throughout one hatch in exact &C
cordance with the makers's instruc-
ion. If the incubators do not per-
form satisfactorily the first time it
will then be time enough to try ex
periments of your own in operating
them.
The best place for an incubator
very early in the season is the living
room of your dwelling. Upon the
whole cellar is the best place to
run incubators throughout the season,
but it must be we'll ventilated. A
house built above ground for incuba
ting should be built with double
walls and ceiled at height of about
eight feet above floor. This makes
it easier to keep warm early in the
season, and to keep cool later on.
Such a house should have a number
of ventilators at the floor level as
we'll as in the ceiling.
In this climate [ have found that
it paid to use little more moisture
than the maker generally directs,
but this rule may not apply to all
makes of incubatorS and [ advise
that the directions be followed i'm
plicitIy the first time the machine is
used and if results are not satisfac
tory then use more moisture next
time. And eggs will generally benefit
by more airing than the book directs,
but you must be careful not to chill
them in cold weather.
The incubators should be running
evenly before the eggs are placed in
them and it the eggs have come by
express they should be "rested' at
least Is hours before they are put in
the machines 1t is best to use a
high grade of oil in the incub ators
but some makes of, incubators will
run all right with a cheaper grade.
But it will be found necessary to use
the best oil at the end OF the hatch
when the flame must be kept very
low.
The hen must not be overlooked
when discussing incubation. Medium
sized biddies are the best for this
purpose, Rhode Island Reds are good
and Wyandottes make ideal mothers.
Move the old girl at night, If possible,
to the desired location, which should
be secluded and dimly lighted place,
and try her out for day or two on
some infertile eggs or chalk eggs be-
fore entrusting her with the real
thing. Visit her once a day-at noon
is best-and let her off nest for food,
water and exercise. Make sure that
she is back on the job within an hour.
Setting hens should be kept free
from vermin but care taken that no
insect powder or disinfecting solu-
ton gets on the eggs. The nest
should be about the size of a canned
goods box and well lined with straw
or hay, bluejoint being especially
good for this purpose. Under the hay
a few inches OF fresh loan or a sod
placed upside down. Test the eggs
under the hen about the seventh day
and when the eggs begin to hatch
leave the hen in charge until the
hatch is finished. Don't try to help
any chicks out of the shell; those
that are worth having will get out all
right by themselves.
A friend of mine who moved to the
country last year employed quite a
number of hens for incubating and
his method was both ingenious and