Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-23
OPERATING THE INCtB\TOR.

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 10o
IL degrees the first half of the hatch
| then gradually increase the heat the re-
naming ~ days until a temperature of
| about IOi degrees is maintained from the
| 18th day 10 the close of the latch. This
| practice is contrary TO nature, and may
result in less chicks Matching than when
a constant temperature of lO2 - degrees
! is held from beginning to end.
| Moisten and soften the membranes
skins, inside the shell of the egg to en-
able the chick to emerge more readily.
! Sprinkle the eggs on the 18th day of in
cuhat ton with water of los degrees. par
! TALLY withdrawing the trays and spray
! ing the eggs lightly with a whisk broom
Sprinkle the interior OF the egg chamber
also that the glass in the door is
dripping wet.
Maintain this atmosphere Of pure. moist
air in the egg chamber until the piping
| is finished When the oldest chicks are
dry and commence to gasp for breath.
open the door. partially 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.
Repeat this airing and sprink'ng several
times on the 10Th. nth and 2st days
The great percentage OF the enlbry os
that die in the shell Mt Piping time are
killed by the poisonous air Of the closed
egg chamber. \ sitting hen exposes her
partially Matched 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
freedom
The ventilation of the egg chamber of
an incubator Is insufficient to maintain
pure air, and when the chicks gasp for
breath. IL is not because they are over
hea ted. 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 re-
place the moisture that has escaped. The
operation does not require over two min
utes and can be repeated as often as
necessary white diarrhoea' and sim
liar intestinal disturbances are caused by
this 'closed-door treatment Such
chicks are difficult TO raise even with
ideal hrooding conditions, and are usually
Of little value.
Hang a 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. Insert a match in
the crack of the door and leave slight
opening when the last chick has emerged
from the shell to provide more fresh all
at this period Maintain a tempera ture
of l02 above the egg try. which will give
/, a temperature of about 81 degrees in the
lower par. where the chicks remain unit
removed to the brooder. Ut is assumed
, the incubator has a chick chamber unde,
= the egg trays, although some types do no
provide this room In that case decrea 81
the temperature above the trays to IN
degrees
DO not he in hurry to take away tn,
and strong on their legs. Tie earlies
PATCHED can remain in the incubator 70
from Sc to IS hours. IL necessary. with
ont injury, IL they have sufficient ventia
. ton, are warm, and do not cat any filth
= This treatment. of course, would ruin TIT
. hatch II the air was foul
INITIATE NATURAL BROODING
METHODS
Before dealing with the construction
, and opera tion OF breeders. let us consider