Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-10
SPRING POULTRY WORK

Washington, d. c. March l0.-The
poultry raiser ON farm or in the city
who wishes to produce fall and winter
eggs with by-produet Of spring
friers should begin now for the early
setting of eggs, say poultry specialists
of the T. S. department of agriculture.
In the state of the extreme south set.
tings should be made from the first to
the middle of February; in the central
group of states, from the early part to
the last of February; and in the north
ern tier of the states, from the latter
part of February to the early part OF
April With settings timed on this sche
dule the chicks viii hatch in ample time
to allow their maturity before cold
weather. The pullets from these broods
should ley during the late fall or early
winter when eggs are scarcest.
The setting schedule outlined also viii
| permit the development of early spring
i"friers' The young chicks will be
developed to the point where they may
be turned out on the ground by the
time vegetation is out and so may aug
ment their feed with green stuff The
smaller breeds Of chickens can be
hatehed later than those which are lar-
ger and slower to develop.
Incubation
! One difficulty. in setting eggs in
I spring at selected dates If the natural
A system of incubation is followed is in
finding broody hens at the proper times.
If natural incubation is depended upon
exclusively it probably viii be best for
the poultry raiser to disregard dates and
make settings whenever broody hens are
available. A good nest for setting is
made of wood, Is inches square and
about Is inches high, with top. The
! front is open except Tor board inches
high. Three or four inches of damp
earth should be placed in such nest
and on this straw, hay or chaff should
4 be firmly packed The hens should be
busted thoroughly with insect powder.
1t is good plan, also, to sprinkle a
little of the powder in the nests.
Using An Incubator.
The suggested schedule can be fol-
lowed exactly if an incubator is used.
J The machine should be operated in
warm room, preferably cellar, as a
| protection against outside temperature
: changes. 1t should be dsinfected thor
loughly before being used, with solu-
tion of a reliable coal-tar disinfeetant.
: Instead of using such solution small
receptacle containing one-half ounce OF
permanganate of potash on which one.
half ounce of formalin has been poured
may be shut up in the incubator. The
resulting gas will thoroughly disinfeet
tho machine After disinfection the
incubator should be run empty for sew
eral days to get it into good operating
condition. After the eggs are in place
the temperature should be held at from
l01 l-2 degrees to 102 +. the first week,
: l02 degrees to 103 degrees the second
; week, and at 1903 degrees the third
weep.
The eggs usually are turned for the
first time at the end of the second day
: and twice daily through the eighteenth
I or nineteenth day. The eggs are cooled
i outside the Matching chamber once daily
: after the seventh and up to the nine
teenth day Moisture should be furnish
ed in artificial incubation in the south
in high attitudes, and when the incu
bator room is dry. This may be done by
,sprinkling the eggs with warm water
n or by placing a wet sponge or pan Of
!. water under the egg tray.
!. During the Matching period carefully
(, fill the lamp and trim the wick each
day. 1t is best to trim the wick BY
: seraping off the burnt portion rather
Z than by cutting the wick The lamf
should not be filled entirely. After th,
lamp is filled it should be closely OBJ
}, served for time to make sure that tht
u flame does not get too high.
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