The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
How to Operate an Incuba- tor to Hatch Chicks That Will Live-Construction and Care of Breeders and Feeding the Chicks
1 By FRANK C. HARE
 | Poultry Husbandman, Clemson College, l Snl1fh CarOlina


 Poultry Husbandman, Clemson College,
 South Carolina.
 Copyright, 191S)
 In the breeding of chicks it is essential that the chicks are properly matched This article explains the laws governing incubation during the last three days and continues with simple directions for the construction and operation of the breeders and the care of the chicks to the time of weaning at about five weeks of age.
 "A we'll l-hatched, healthy chick grows hisself,' is an old saying, which applies to incubator matched chicks, for the req : son that they do not enjoy maternal at tention and protection. To have these healthy chicks to place in the -brooder, the operation 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 overheat the eggs and chicks at the pipping period. Many operators run their incubators at temperature of 1021a degrees the first half of the hatch, then gradually increase the heat the re- maining 10 days until at temperature of about 104 degrees is maintained from the eighteenth day to the close of the hatch. This practice is contrary to na- ture, and may result in less chicks hatch ing than when constant temperature of 1021a degrees is held from beginning to end.
 Moisten and soften the membranes (skns) inside the shell of the egg to en- able the chick to emerge more readily. Sprinkle the eggs on the eighteenth day of incubation with water of 1G6 degrees, partially withdrawing the trays and spraying the eggs lightly with whislz broom. Sprinkle the interior of the egg chamber also, so that the glass in the door is dripping wet.
 Maintain this atmosphere of pure, moist air in the egg chamber until the ppping 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 Re- peat this airing and sprinkling several times on the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-hrst days.
 1 ne great percentage or 6In OrNOS that die in the shell at pipping time are killed by the poisonous air of the closed egg chamber. A sitting hen exposes her par tially matched eggs and chicks withou, decreasing the hatch; she will stand in the nest and with her beak endeavor to help g chick to break the shell and gain freedom.
 The ventilation of the egg chamber of an incubator is insufficient to maintain r1 irlyc For breath, it is not because they are over heated, 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 ecpade. The opera ton does not require oyer two minutes and can be repeated as often as nsces- sady. White darrhoea'' and similar in testinal disturbances are caused by this 1 closed door Urea tlnent. Such chicks are difficult to raise even with ideal brood- ma conditions, and are usually of little value. Hang Q piece of burlap over the glass in the door of the egg chamber to darlsen 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 ai1. at this period Maintain a telnpera t1re CT lVz apoVe the egg tray, which will give temperature of about s5 degrees in the lower part where the chicks remain until removed to the brooder. Ct is as- sumed the incubator has chick cha m, Der under the egg trays. although some types do not provide this room In that l case decrease the temperature above the trays to foo degrees)
 Do not be in a hurry to take away l the chicks; wait until the youngest are dry and strong on their legs. The earliest matched can remain in the in cHnator Tor from S6 to 4S hours, if necessary, without injury, if they have sufficient ventilation, are warm. and l do not eat any filth. This treatment. of course, would ruin the hatch if the air was foul.
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