Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29
CARE OF SETTING HENS
Plays an Important Part in the
Matching Process.
All EGGS should he Tested At Least
Twice During Period Of Incuba.
tion-several Good
Methods.

farm should receive q certain amount of
care and attention during the process Of
eggs. To great extent the care
given a setting hen plays an important
part on the number and condition Of the
chicks when Matched. with this end in
view, the poultry specialists Of the Uni
ted States department Of agriculture
make the following suggestions:
II several hens are sitting In the same
room, see that they are kept on the nests.
allowing them to come on only once a
day to receive feed and water. the feed to
consist Of corn, wheat, or both. II there
are any that do not desire to come or
themselves, they should be taken Off.
Hens usually return to their nests be"
fore there 10 any danger of the eggs chill
ing, but IL they do not 60 back in half
an hour in ordinary weather, they should
be put on the nest. Where a large number
of sitters are kept in one room It II ad-
visable to let them OF in groups OF from
four to six at time The eggs and nests
should be examined and cleaned, remov-
ing all broken eggs and washing those
that are soiled; in the latter case the
soiled nesting material should be re-
moved and clean straw added. Nests
containing broken eggs that the hen 10
allowed to sit on soon become infested
with mites and lice, which cause the hens
to become uneasy and leave the nest,
often causing the loss Of valuable sittin Is
of eggs. In mite-infested nests. the hen,
II fastened in, will often be found stand
ing over rather than sitting on the eggs.
Many eggs that are laid In the late win
ter and early spring are intertile. For
this reason It IL advisable to Get several
hens at the same time. After the eggs
have been under the hens from fvs to
seven days, the time depending somewhat
on the color and thickness Of the shells
white-shelled eggs being easier to test
than those having brown shelis-they
should be tested. the infertile eggs and
dead germs removed, and the fertile eggs
put back under the hen. In this way II
is often possible to put all the ssss that
several hens originally started to sit on
under fewer hens ana reset the others.
For example, 30 eggs are set under three
hens at the same time. 10 under each. At
the end Of seven days We hnd on testing
the eggs from all the hens that 10 are in
fertile. which leaves W 20 eggs to reset.
which we do by putting them under two
hens, and have the remaining hen cit
days. In this way eonsidsrable time can
be saved in ones Matching operations.
TESTING EGGS FOR TURTILrTY.
An egg. whether impresnated or not.
has . email grayish spot on the surface
Of the yolk known a. the 'gerninal spot"
As soon as a fertile egg Is placed under
a hen. or in an incubator. devsAusoent
begins All eggs should be tested At least
twice during the period Of incubation. pre-
ferably on the seventh and 18th days. and
the infertile eggs and dead germs re-
moved. White eggs can be tested on the
fourth or nth day. while the development
in eggs having brown shells often car
not be seen by the use Of an ordinary
egg tester until the seventh day. Dead
germs soon decay and give III bad odor
II allowed to remain under tho hen. In.
fertile eggs make good feed for youns
chickens, and are often used in the home
for culinary purposes. Most incubator
companies furnish testing chimneys with
their machines which will fit ordinary
lamps. Electric or gaslamps may be
used in a box with hole slightly small.
or than an egg cut In the side OF the box
and at the same level as the light. They
may also be tested by sunlight. or day
light, using shutter or curtain with
a small hole in It for the light to shine
through.
good homemade egg tester, or GAMBLER
can be made with a large shoe box, OF
| any box that Is large enough to go ovel
| a lamp, by removing the end and cutting
a hole a little larger than the size OF q
quarter in the bottom Of the box, 30 that
when it 10 set over a kerosene lamp thu
hole In the bottom will be opposite thu
| blaze. A hole the size of a silver dollar
| should be cut in the top Of the box to al
| low the hsat to escape.
The eggs are tested with the large enc
| UP, so that the size Of the air cell may
DO seen as we'll as tho condition Of tn
embryo. The testing should take place
| in dark room. The infertile egg wher
held before the small hole with the lamI
| lighted inside the box will look perfect!
| clear, the same a. . fresh ono. while
| fertile egg will show small dark spot
known a. tho embryo. with mass O.
| little blood veins extending In al direc
tons. II tho embryo IL living; II dead. ant
| the egg has been ineubated for at leas
4s hours. the blood settles away from tn
embryo toward the edges Of the yolk
forming in some cases an irregular circl'
of blood. known a. a blood ring. Egg
vary In this respect, some showing onl,
a streak Of blood. All infertile egg
should be removed at the first test. Thu
eggs containing strong. living embryo
are dark and well filled up on the l4ti
day, and show . clear. sharp. distinc
line Of demarcation between the air col
and the growing embryo. while deas
germs show only partial development, ant
lack this clear, distinct outline.
NOT BOTHERED ANY MORE.
So-called rheumatic pains. grippe aches