Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-05-12
INCUBATION.

Eric y. Belsld. Instructor 81 Animal In
d ss, Y. Of -, II Farmsss Week sourss.
Incubation IL one Of the most important
considerations for the poultry breeder.
The flrst point to be considered il the con-
dition Of the eggs. It u far too common
practice to blame the incubator or the hen
for poor catches when the real cause Of
the trouble il with the sggs.
The fresher the egg, the better the
chance for it, producing strong, healthy
chick. Eggs should not b. held more
than two weeks. While they are stored
for incubation, they should b kept In .
wsll-vsntilatsd room It about tho temper
allure Of nom 20 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
II y also advisable to change the position
OF tbs eggs daily; that 10, SIMPLY turn
them while they are being kept for in
cubsting. All nisshapen, oversised or
underlined eggs or those which show
blood spots, or blood rings, should mot be
set.
4 II 10 less expensive in some cases 10 hatch
naturally rather than srtiflcially. How
ever, II ons plans to hatch many eggs, It
will b economical In the long run 10 nee
artificial methods, although the natural
method Il more efficient. II one 10 to uss
the natural method, 1t 10 BEST to select .
hen from one Of the general purpose
breeds OF medium size, quiet, and In good
health. Make comfortable nest for her
In soma secluded place whore she will
mot BE- disturbed. No hen should be set
unless she shows the broody character to
marked degree; that Il, hen which has
set on = nest two or three nights and
shows all tho indications Of Being broody.
Before the eggs are set, the hen should
be thoroughly busted with lice powder
and arrangements made 80 that she can
obtain feed and water without leaving
tho nest for long period.
Where artificial incubation 10 to be
practiced, the incubator * ould b
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before
the eggs are placed in Il. Any standard
make, well-built machine that 10 In good
condition will give satisfactory results II
the directions are followed and the leggs
are strongly tertilixed. It is well to have
the machine running at constant
temperature Of 100 degrees Fahrenheit be-
fore the eggs ara placed in it. This
temperature OF los degrees must be main
tanned throughout the incubating period.
The eggs are placed in the machine and
not disturbed until the third day. The
third day the eggs are turned twice daily
until the time when the chicks are Begin
ming to pip, which will usually be the
latter part OF the ninteenth or the first
OF the twentieth day.
Eggs are tested the seventh and four
tenth days by the use OF q candle or some
lighting device. On the seventh day the
infertile eggs are taken out as well as the
dead embryos. 1t is best to take out those
eggs which appear doubtful, as, IL they
are dead. the gases given of by the de-
composition OF the embryo may injure the
remaining eggs. 1t is sometimes more
convenient to have two small incubators
than one large one, as after the first test 1t
may be possible to place all the eggs in
one machine and start the smaller ones
ovs again.
Under our conditions 1t is necessary to
apply moisture, although il q machine is
set in medium moist room that is easily
kept at constant temperature OF from
90 to 10 degrees, the amount OF moisture
to be added is not great. Moisture can be
best added either by playing water in
pans under the machine or by sprinkling
the floor or walls of the room. In some
cases, sprinkling the eggs from the first
day until the nineteenth with water at
temperature Of 100 degrees, has given sat
istaction. After the fifteenth day, the
heat may rise, due to thr heat that is pro-
duced within the egg, but it should not be
allowed to 60 over 1903 degrees. 1t is best
to turn the wick down IL the temperature
Is too high.
The directions for setting up the ma
chine, placing the thermometer and actual
operation OF the machine are sent out
from the factory and should be followed
to the letter, as the manufacturers have
made . study OF their incubators and
know how they should be operated for
best results.