Milford chronicle., 1915-07-02

While there are many persons engaged
in poultry culture and the raising Of
chickens, who incubate during every
month of the year, and in q measure
with much success, yet this method is
not to be encouraged. Especially IS this
true, in so far as the average poultry
man or breeder is concerned, who does
not aim to put brOilers on the market
the year around.
The spring months are set aside by
nature for the incubation of chicks.
This can be seen from the fact that it
is then that the hen becomes brOOdy
and makes known her inclination to set.
If this were not true, nature would
cause the hens to get broody at other
seasons of the year. OF course, coupled
with the spring months, we might well
include those of summer and even early
fall, but never in the winter.
The spring months, however, are the
very best ones for Matching. and to these
we might add the past month June
for many chicks are Matched and reared
successfully at this season of the year.
1t is entirely too hot during July and
August for a hen to be confied to nest
for three solid weeks, and have known
many to die upon the nest while making
the effort to get out brood during
these months.
Spring, therefore, is the season when
the breeder should aim to hatch his
stock and build up his flock of winter
LAYERS, and / am led to believe that
much greater success will attend your
efforts if you follow the laws Of nature.
in so far as the season for Matching is
concerned, than otherwise. Chicks
hatched during July, August and Sep
tember will not mature in time for fall
or winter laying, and will have to be
kept over until spring before they begin
to yield. This is expensive.
While it is true that the bulk OF the
Matching should be done during April
and May, yet much can be done during
March, and again even as late as June,
especially the smaller boiled fowls,
which as a rule, are quick to mature.
However, when chicks are Matched as
late as June, one must be particularly
attentive to their many wants and COM
forts if he hopes to meet with success
in their raising. If you have adopted
any of the larger bodied fowls, never
hatch late, for your efforts will be IN
vain.
Don't wash the eggs to be used for
Matching, unless absolutely necessary.
1t is far better to supply the hens with
good. clean nests, having clean eggs as
the result, than to be forced to wash
the eggs to get them clean. Many per-
sons claim that washing the eggs does
not in the leasst hurt them. Well, be
this as it may, it certainly does them
no good-and if it does not do good then
it must do harm.
Many chicks are lost through the i'm
proper handling of eggs prior to incuba-
ton. Have you ever found the chicks
to stick in the shell. and note that they
will die unless liberated by human hands
and even this sometimes is not suttiei-
ent to save their lives. There is a cause
for this, and it is the improper handling
of the eggs.
Eggs should be turned every day
while waiting for incubation, and fail
ure to comply with this will result in
the youngsters sticking in the shell.
The constant resting in one position of
the egg causes the membrane to stick
to the shell of the egg, with the result /
quoted.
Set the eggs as soon after they are |
laid as possible, to insure better hatch |
and also to avoid the trouble of turning |
them daily. Remember, the longer the
egg lays the weaker become the germs
and the less chance there is to hatch it.
Many poor matches are the direct result
of the eggs having laid too long before
being incubated. Then too, it must be
remembered that eggs to be used for
incubation should be kept in moderate
temperature of from 48 to so degrees.
The germ Of the egg will start action at
a temperature of 20 degrees.