Milford chronicle., 1916-01-28
Incubation! Natural And Artificial.
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights Rese,Te0

NOW that the subject of mating your
birds for the best possible results has
been dealt with, probably the next most
important thing to be considered is that
of incubation. When this subject is
mentioned, two separate and distinct
methods Immediately suggest them
selves. The natural way, that Of allow
ing the hens to perform this perfume
tory duty, or the more advanced way of
utilizing the scientific hen known as the
incubator.
Just which of these ways is the bet
ter for pOultrymen has been and prob |
ably always will be debatable question.
There are many persons engaged in the |
business of raising poultry, both for 1
fancy and profit, who continue to hold |
to the idea that more success results
from sticking to natures way, but when
1t IS taken into consideration that 80 per
cent of all of the larger commercial
poultry raisers have adopted the incu-
batOr, It seems to me that this can be
taken as an evidence that the best re-
suits are obtained from the use of the
manufactured hen. II
When one only desires to raise a few
birds for their own use. or even for
show purposes, it might be well to stick
closely to the natural method Of incuba-
tiOn. or in other words, allow the hen
to get out the matches. This, of course,
means where one is raising the larger \
bodied birds, or those prone to sit. Then J
too, it is advisable to follow this method {
where one is pressed for time and is un-
able to devote any amount Of time to
the Matching of chicks.
Don't understand me, however, to say d
that setting hens need no attention, for !
such is not true. As a matter of fact, !.
believe that they require just as much :
lime and attention as does the incuba- =
-or, particularly when they are kept in \
he same quarters with the rest of the y
lock. p
The incubator has done as much for 81
he poultry business as has electricity
or the manufacturing business. On
he large commercial poultry plants one ca
nan can attend to many thousands Of Il
f eggs under incubation, while if the &C
en-hatched method were pursued il o,
'ould require the service of several ia
uch employees. tn
Many poultry raisers condemn the in 70
ubator, on the grounds that the chicks in
atched IN them are not as healthy We
trOng and vigorous as those brought in 70
the world by the mother hen. This tn
mistaken idea, | have tried both TO
lethods and have had just as good re- tr
ats with incubator as / did with hens.
by following the natural method
The trOnble with the average novice Al,
the poultry business starts when he "
ets the impression that he understands "a
le incubator better than the inventor, s lsss
I'd as a result, instead of following the WI
rectiOns given for its use, applies his
gn methods. When failure comes, he
ndemns the machine and its maker, tn,
ther than himself. pla
Were your yards are filled with birds foy
assed with egg breeds it is necessary ser
r you to use the incubator or to pur- son
ase some brOOdy hens for the purpose to
Matching. Of the two, ! would sug- tiol
st that you purchase an incubator, aft
one of the fifty egg variety. as you exc
j thus be able TO get your hatchings The
in less time than you could by re- pri'
ting to the use of hens. Then too,
ere the incubation is pressed into use n
. are enabled to hatch as early as you
iire. While if you are compelled to ~
1t for hens to get brOOdy, your hatch tLe' etie'
season might be stretched over a eHe
g period and you will thus fail to get ~ IL.
~ matches which are so essential for wy. we
production of fall and winter layers. ysoui
u course, where one is engaged in a''
sing fowls of theMediterranean class,
} not absolutely necessary to get the N
ches out as early as if any of the to t
yier bodied birds are kept, but al your
ugh this be true, it is always best to
ch as early as possible, no matter
Il the breed. Early matches allow
youngsters to get a good start in
before the hot weather strikes them, 1T
the longer the start the better able muc
Z are 70 stand it. wlnt
he incubator has many advantages load
: the hen for purposes Of incubation, goes
ever, and the idea that the chicks tieul
not as strong and healthy is indeed, the
,ulous. Where one does not intend that
i've the matter of Matching any at selen
ion, it is best known to make use of stori
icial methOd-it requires some perez
hse1 unless you give it, the talna
ng ebe satisfactory. been
10 out a gentle hint Just pect'
speciat1ere it is too much stage
IN at 7aaged in poultry-rais- ing
ator the attention it IN
ANITA, then it is far bet Deen
seiocEIlt tual give up the idea 1y Sc
is. He will never tolks
C,.. a breeder, nor will neads
G ,e. fit from it. The old ures
itomsseY iS,nso,,sY FORTH doing at all, is music
~ nj applies to the rails VINO
~ y ~ n NJ e,'well as to any other mis-
SIS OF Mr. AZ many
Pa Jus what method you card
pios'u cS pu rpose of Matching. day e