Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-11
COPYRIGHT 1a16

In the brooding of chicks il is essen
tial that the chicks are properly
Matched. This article explains the
laws governing incubation during tho
last three days, and continues with
simple directions for the construction
and operation of the brooders and the
care of the chicks TO the time of wean-
ing at about five weeks of age.
n WELL-HATCHED, healthy chick
n grows hisself," is an old saying,
which applies to incubator
Matched chicks, for the reason that
they do not enjoy maternal attention
and protection. To have these healthy
Grafton of the incubator from the
eighteenth day to the removal of the
brood from the machine must be gov
erned by the laws of Nature. The
last three days are most important.
Operating the Incubator
Do not overhead the eggs and chicks
at the piping period. Many operators
run their incubators at a temperature
of 1929 degrees the first half of the
hatch, then gradually increase the
heat the remaining ten days until
temperature of about 104 degrees is
maintained from the eighteenth day
to the close of the hatch This prac-
tice is contrary to nature. and may re-
suit in less chicks Matching than when
a constant temperature of 1922. de-
grees is held from beginning to end.
Moisten and soften the membranes
(skins) inside the shell of the egg to
enable the chick to emerge more read
lily. Sprinkle the eggs on the
eighteenth day of incubation with wa
ter of LOG degrees partially withdraw
ing the trays and spraying the eggs
lightly with a whisk broom. Sprinkle
the interior of the egg chamber also,
so that the glass in the door is drip
pins wet.
Maintain this atmosphere of pure,
moist air in the egg chamber until
the piping is finished. When the old
est chicks are dry and commence TO
gasp for breath, open the door, par
TALLY withdraw an egg tray, remove
any dry chicks to the chick chamber
underneath, roll the eggs around, and
sprinkle the unmatched and pipped
eggs and wet chicks with warm water
In the manner previously described.
times on the nineteenth, twentieth
and twenty-first days.
The great percentage of the en-
bryos that die in the shell at piping
time are killed by the poisonous air
of the closed egg chamber. A sitting
hen exposes her partially-hatched
eggs and chicks without decreasing
the hatch; she will stand in the nest
and with her beak endeaVor to help a
chick break the shell and gain free
dom.
The ventilation of the egg chamber
of an incubator is insufficient to main
tain pure air, and when the chicks
gasp for breath, it is not because they
are overheated, but because they are
suffering for lack of oxygen. This is
the signal to open the door, purify
the air, and to sprinkle the eggs with
warm water to replace the moisture
that has escaped. The operation does
not require over two minutes and can
be repeated as often as necessary.
white diarrhoea" and similar intes-
final disturbances are caused by this
"closed-door" treatment. Such chicks
are difficult to raise even with ideal
brooding conditions, and are usually
of little value.
Hang n piece of burlap over the
glass in the door of the egg chamber
TO darken the interior and prevent the
older chicks eating the droppings. In
sert a match in the crack of the door
and leave q slight opening when the
last chick has emerged from the shell
to provide more fresh air at this per-
iod. Maintain a temperature OF 102
above the egg tray, which will give
temperature of about 95 degrees in
the lower part where the chicks re-
main until removed to the brooder.
It is assumed the incubator has Il
chick chamber under the egg trays,
although some types do not provide
this room. In that case decrease the
temperature above the trays to 100 de-
grees)
Do not be in a hurry to take away
the chicks; wait until the youngest
are dry and strong on their legs. The
earliest hatched can remain in the in
cubator for from SO to As hours, If
necessary, without injury. if they have
sufficient ventilation, are warm, and
do not eat any filth. This treatment,
of course, would ruin the hatch If the
air was foul.
Initiate Natural Brooding Methods
Before dealing with the construction
and operation of brooders, let us con-
slider the natural brooding of chicks.
We cannot improve on nature, and to
achieve the greatest success, we must
understand and abide by her laws.
The temperature of the bare breast
of the sitting hen is 104.6 degrees a
much greater heat than the chicks re-
ouire; the temperature inside the
hens wings is 99.4 degrees, but the
chicks are not compelled to remain
in either of these places. IF they are
cold, they can be quickly warmed; if
they become too warm, they can push
out their head or body and cool off
We should endeavor to obtain this
flexible condition in artificial brood
ing.
Brooder Stoves Are Recommended
From the conditions found in nat
ural incubation, it would seem that
the latest system of brooding chicks,
the use of coal-burning or oil-burning
brooder stoves that have a tempera-
ture Of 10 to 120 degrees near the
stove and lower temperatures at
greater distances, would be more sue
cessful than small brooders in which
the chicks are kept at a certain heat.
The secret of success in brooding
chicks is to have some warm place "a
hover), to which the chicks may run
when cold, and from which they can
move into more moderate tempera-
ture when too warm. Breeders that
do not permit the chicks to select a
comfortable heat at all times must be
operated by an expert, or the brood
will he endangered by being over
heated or chilled.
The cost of the coal-burning stove
referred to has been reduced So that