Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-23
PuLLETs FOR FAIL S
EGG LAYING SHOULD
BE MATCHED EARLY.

The poultry raiser on farm or in city
who wishes to produce fall and winter
eggs with a hy-product Of spring
''fryers" should begin now to plan for
the early setting of eggs, say poultry
specialists of the United States depart
ment of agriculture. In the states Of
the extreme south settings 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 Feb
ruary: 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 batch in ample time to allow ma
turity 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 also
will permit the development Of early
spring "fryers." 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.
One difficulty In setting eggs in
spring at selected dates If the natural
system of incubation Is followed is in
finding broody hens at the proper times.
If natural incubation is depended upon
exclusively It will he best for poultry
raisers to disregard dates and make
settings whenever broody hens are
available. A good nest for setting Is
made OF wood, 10 inches square and
about Is inches high, with top. The
front is open except for a board s
inches high. Three or four inches OF
damp earth should be placed In such a
nest and on this straw, hay or chan
should be firmly packed. The hens
should be busted thoroughly with in
sect powder It is good plan also to
sprinkle little of the powder In the
nests.
Using an Incubator.
The suggested schedule can be fol-
lowed exactly if an incubator Is used.
The machine should be operated In q
warm room. preferably a cellar, as
protection against outside temperature
changes. 1t should be disinfected thor
oughly before being used. with So
luton OF a reliable coal-tar disinfect-
ant. Instead Of using such a solution
a small receptacle containing One-half
ounce OF permanganate Of potash on
which one-half ounce of fornalin has
been poured may be shut up in the in
cubator The resulting gas will thor
oushly disinfect the machine. After
dislnfection the incubator should be
run empty for several days to get it
into good operating condition. After
the eggs are in place the temperature
should be held at from 10l1s to 102
degrees F. the first week. ,102 to .1o3
degrees the second week. and at 163
degrees the third week.
The eggs usually are turned for the
first time at the end of the second day
and twice daily thru the eighteenth or
nineteenth day. The eggs are cooled
outside the Matching chamber once
daily after the seventh and up to the
nineteenth day. Moisture should be
furnished In artificial incubation in the
south. in high attitudes, and when the
incubator room Is dry This may be
done by sprinkllng the eggs with warm
water or by placing a wet sponge or
pan Of water under the egg tray.
During the Matching period carefully
I'LL the lamp and trim the wick each
day. 1t is best to trim the wick by
scraping off the burnt portion rather
than by cutting the wick. The lamp
should not be filed entirely. After the
lamp is filled 1t should be closely OBJ
served for time to make sure that the
flame does not get too high.