The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-02-16
FALL AND WINTER PRODUCT;
HINTS BY THE EXPERTS
Instructions Given BY the Agriculture
Department At Washington On How
To Get Best Results; Valuable Sug-
gestions On Incubation and Other
Matters Connected With This Very
Interesting Profitable Farm Work
Especial to Free Press.1
from THURSDAYS Daily.


Washington, D. c., February l.
The poultry raiser on farm or in city
who wishes to produce fall and win
ter eggs with a by-product of spring
'~friers'' should begin now to plan
for the early setting of eggs, say
poultry specialists of the United
States department of agriculture. In
the states 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 northern tier of states,
from the latter part of February to
the early part Of April. With set
tings timed on this schedule the
chicks will hatch in ample time to
allow their maturity before cold
weather. The pullets from these
broods should lay during the late
fall or early winter when eggs are
scarcest.
The setting schedule outlined al
so will permit the development of
early spring "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 augment their
feed with green stuff. The smaller
breeds of chickens can be Matched
later than those which are larger
and slower to develop.
Incubation.-HoW and When.
One difficulty in setting eggs in
spring at selected dates if the natur-
al system of incubation is followed
rs in finding brrody hens at the prop
er times. If natural incubation is
depended upon exclusively it prob
ably will 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, fifteen inches
square and about fifteen inches high
with a top. The front is open X
cept for a board six inches high.
Three or four inches of damp earth
should be placed in such a nest and
on this straw, hay, or chaff should
be firmly packed. The hens should
be busted thoroughly with insect
powder. 1t is a good plan, also, to
sprinkle a little of the powder in the
ness.
Using An Incubator.
The suggested schedule can be
followed exactly if an incubator is
used. The machine should be oper-
ated in a warm room, preferably a
cellar, as a protection against out
side temperature changes. 1t should
be disenfected thoroughly before
being used, with a solution of a re-
liable coa!-tar disinfectant. Instead
of using such a solution a small re-
ceptacle containing one-half ounce
of permanganate of potash on which
one-half ounce of formaline has
been poured may be shut up in the
incubator. The resulting gas will
thoroughly disinfect the machine.
AFTER ,hisinfection the incubator
should be run empty for several days
to get it into good operating condi-
ton. After the eggs are in place the
temperature should be held at from
1917 degrees to 120 degrees the
first week, 1O2 degrees to 103 degrees
the second week, and at 103 degrees
the third week.
Turning the Eggs.
The eggs usually are turned fol
the first time at the end of the
second day and twice daily through
the eighteenth or nineteenth day
The eggs are cooled outside the
Matching chamber once daily after
the seventh and up to the nine
teenth day. Moisture should be fur
nished in artificial incubation in the
south, in high attitudes, and when the
incubator room is dry. This may bt
dcne by sprinkling the eggs will
warm water or by placing a we
sponge or pan of water under thu
egg tray.
During the Matching period care
fully fill the lamp and trim the wicl
each day. 1t is best to trim thu
wick by ~scraping off the burnt por'
ton rather than by cutting the wick
The lamp should not be filled entire
ly. After the lamp is filled it shoult
be closely observed for a time t.
make sure that the fame does no