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

incubator that there was anything
like a dependable supply Of winter
eggs. Of course, it is the winter eggs
that command the big price. There
is mighty good money in eggs at from
thirty to forty cents a dozen.
PUllets lay in the neighborhood Of
eighty per cent of all the winter eggs.
The hen generally takes a 'lay-off''
after moulting and waits till spring.
In order to have the pullets laying
when the price Of eggs is soaring it
is necessary to have them Matched at
the right time. In order to hatch
them at the right time one can't af-
ford to wait for the old hen to sit
The pullet that is Matched so that
she will come into laying just before
cold weather arrives, and has reason
ably good care from Matching time
up just can't help but lay.
It is impossible to lay down general
rules for operating incubatoTs which
viii apply to every kind of machine
that is manufactured. There are some
general principles. however, which ap-
ply to all machines and, if followed,
viii aid in securing better matches
and stronger chicks.
One person only should be RESPONSE
bic for the handling Of an incubator
When two persons divide the respon-
sIbiiity, neither is ever certain what
the other has done. a machine can
only be regulated intelIigentIy when
one knows when the damper was
raised or lowered the last time and
how much.
First of all the incubator should be
in room where the temperature re-
mains fairly constant A living room
is seldom, if ever, a good place to OPP
crate an incubator. A cellar will gen.
orally be much better if the machine
is so placed that the sun can never
shine on It, the wind cannot blow on
it, and the furnace heat or fumes can
not reach It If the cellar is damp,
so much the better.
Before lighting the lamp the ma
chine should be made level This
may be accomplished by the use of a
common spirit level and some small
blocks placed under the legs of the
machine. If one side is high the heat
will rise to that side and leave the
been used before it should be thor
ough1y drenched inside with some
good cheap dip. 1t viii not hurt the
eggs to put them in before the ma
chine is dry, provided, the tempera-
ture is right. IF there has been dis
ease among the birds which laid the
eggs, or If there has ever been any
White Diarrhoea on the place. the
further precaution of wiping OFF every
egg with ninety-two per cent alcohol
should be taken.
The question of supplying moisture
must be left to the judgment of the
operator. If the place is very dry,
sprinkle the floor literally or place a
pan OF sand well soaked in the ma
chine. If the room or cellar is damp
the moisture will care for itself.
Before lighting the lamp it is an
excellent plan to pin two wicks to
gether so that toward the end of the
hatch the wick may not become too
short and the lamp go cut. Never
start a machine without q fresh wick
and fresh OF If the machine has been
used before. Then too, It is we'll to
trim the corners Of the wick a little
so that the flame will be even and
round and not have long points pro
jecting at either end. At this time
and throughout the hatch the lamp
should be kept scrupulousIy clean. II
good oil is used the lamp and heater
are kept clean there IS little, If any.
danger of fire starting from an incu-
bator
Start out with moderate flame. It
viii run up a little after it has burned
a while. Then turn the thumb screw
on the connecting rod of the regulator
until it has a quarter inch play When
starting a new machine for the first
time. it is wise to visit it every two
hours until the desired temperature
102 degrees F. is reached and main
tanned. 1t is also wise precaution