Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-12

Why do my chicks die in the SHELF"
is frequent inquiry. and a very peril
nent one at this season of the year.
A great many people blame their in
cubators, when the cause may come
from half a dozen sources There are
many conditions surrounding the egg,
betore and after 1t is set, that may re-
suit In the germ dying before it has
nave been kept too long before set
ting, or in too warm or too cold a.
place, may be the cause of r. poor hat oh
frequently eggs are left in the nest so
ions as TO commence to incubate and
then are kept some days before being
put into the incubator The embryo in
the meantime has died. OF course. moth
ing can ever resuscitate it. IF eggs are
100 long exposed to extreme heat or
extreme cold after incubation has start
are handled too roughly while on a
long journey it will contribute to the
same result.
TOO much moisture in the incubator
Will often cause the chicks to attain
such large size in the shell that it is
impossible for them to move their heads
or bills and peck their way out. There
must De certain amount of evapora-
tlon IN the eggs. SO that there may be
large air cell and the chick may
have room to move and to breathe,
course, If the eggs are not properly
turned and exposed to the air occa-
sionally for ventilation, or If the heat
Is very irregular, good matches cannot
be expected.
Causes further back than these may
affect the incubation of the egg. The
breeding stock from which the eggs were
obtained might not have been in proper
CONDITION: The feed. care and runs may
be improper and not conducive to the
good health and condition of the breeding
STOCK improper or too abundant nourish-
ment. the lack of exercise and a failure
TO supply plenty Of fresh air may also
be other causes Of poor eggs. Too old or
too impotent males or too old or too fat
females or undeveloped breeding stock, all
and any. may tend to produce eggs that
lack sufficient vitality to insure full in
cubatfon. In short. unless you have a
perfectly good, fertile egg you cannot ex-
pect fully developed chick. So don't
blame the incubator for fault of which
1t is perfectly innocent.
Frozen combs are almost inevitably fol-
lowed by falling off in egg production
Eating snow will lead to a diminished pro-
duction of eggs. Damp houses in winter
put camper on the egg laying business.
Dry or the houses somehow. When the
droppings get moist in the house better
get busy. The smell from damp Drop
pings has tendency to make hens sickly
they need 1t is good plan to chop cab
page fine for them. If not it makes work
for them to hang the cabbage up and
let them jump and squabble for their
green feed.
1t matters but little where the roosts
are arranged. provided they are out of
the way of those who are compelled to
pass in and out. The roosts should be
in such position that the fowls will
be warm and comfortable. the main
object being to avoid drafts or cur
rents of air.
In color the Bourbon Red turkeys
are deep brownish red. with main
feathers white and more or less white
feathers in the center of the tail These
beautiful markings. together with the
birds stately carriage. make them an
ornament to any country place. They
are of kind and gentle disposition
and do not stray far from home, as
most turkeys do. While they are not
immune to disease. they are especially
hardy and strong.
Minorcas are one of the great egg
laying breeds. They are larger than