Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-03-19
Conditions Employed by the
Hen Must be Initiated as
Closely as Possible.
Importance of Uniform
Heat, Moisture, Carbon
DoXide and Oxygen.
by PROF. JAMES b. NORMAN.
(Former Expert for the United States De
partment of Agriculture
Copyright. 1916.

(The natural method OF Matching
by hens no longer meets the growing
demand for eggs and poultry. Conse-
quently Matching eggs by incubators
is rapidly taking the place OF sitting
hens The aim is to hatch large
number OF strong chicks early in
spring. These lay eggs In fall and
winter when prices are high. Arti-
fetal incubation. therefore. is of great
economic value. Success Is possible
when "A few simple rules for running
an incubator arc carried out. These
rules apply equally well for hot-air
or hot-water incubators)
The natural process of Matching re-
quires vital heat. moisture and air.
The normal temperature of n sitting
hen is between 1913 and l0i degrees.
While she is sitting a certain amount
of bodily moisture comes in contact
with the eggs. Air circulates about
the eggs through the feathers. These
are the conditions of natural inCuba-
tion. They must be approached very
closely in artificial incubation to Sc
cure good results.
Place for an Incubator.
Many experiment stations have reg
ular incubator cellars for artificial
| Matching. In such "a place IL is easier
incubator and to retain the moisture
better. However an incubator cellar
| Is not always possible on farms on
poultry plants. In that case a clean,
! light cellar of the ordinary dwelling
house Will serve the purpose. An im-
portant thing is to see that the place
is well ventilated. Even If an ordinary
cellar Is not available. then n room
above ground may be used. The pre-
/ .l,.. 4. tnt Int
cubator does not stand in a draught
That would be fatal to success, as tn,
heat in the egg chamber could moi
be kept uniform under such a condi-
| ton. Since heat takes the place oi
vital energy in artificial Matching, Il
is very important that the tempera
ture surrounding the incubator b,
kept as uniform as possible
But the best kind of incubator pu
in the best place will not bring sue
cess in Matching unless the eggs are
fertile and the germ is strong. Poo
results are often charged against tn,
incubator when the eggs are entirel,
at fault. Good eggs can only be pro
duced from strong and vigorous stock
| The first principle in scientific breed
ing is that only vigorous stock pro
duces eggs with strong germs From
the standpoint of biology there is NJ
: doubt about that fact and there is NJ
eetting around 1t in artificial or nat
ural incubation. Half the means o
success exist in the eggs before tn,
incubator is started at all. If thes,
conditions are fulfilled the matter o
running an incubator to get satisfac
tory results in strong chicks and lot!
Of thcm is not difficult.
Value of Moisture and Air.
The mother hen Is an organism
with vital powers. When she sits OF
eggs the heat of the body throws Of
bon dioxide. An incubator by itsel
cannot do this. In the natural process
of Matching the functions performed
are largely biological and physiolog
ical; with artificial incubation Tho
process is largely physical. The vita