Milford chronicle., 1917-01-26
THE SUBJECT OF INCUBATION.
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights ResetVed1

Following up our article on the mating
of fowls comes the appropriate subject oI
incubation. This topic is one that de
mands the earnest thought and careful
attention of every person engaged in the
raising of poultry. While there are oi
course, many persons who purchase a
great number of day-old chicks each year,
/ the really successful poultryman must
resort to breeding and raising the greater
quantity of his stock, because this means
big saving.
The subject of incubation, when under
stood, will enable the breeder to greatly
increase his profits over other and more
expensive methods.
This is true from many standpoints,
for with proper incubation and with this
naturally goes the brooding and l might
say the mating, the breeder is enabled
not only to build up a healthy aud vigor-
Gus stock. but also to develop good lay
ing strain; thus increasing his profits
from both branches of the business.
This is possibly the one season of the
year above all others when most breeders
of poultry turn their attention to incubat-
ing, having mated their birds at the be-
ginning of the year, or even earlier, as is
the case with many.
There is little or no difference in rails
ing poultry when it comes to the matter
of these essentials for show purposes or
for commercial purposes. Early matches
are aimed at in both instances and il gen
orally follows that the man who gets the
Youngsters out early in either case is the
one who reaps the greatest reward.
By mating up the pens early III the
l. l., Af.a hot
has Just passed, you will be enabled to |
get a large percentage of the chicks out
about the first Of February, and by keep |
ing at it., may not be forced to do any |
Matching after the middle of March. This |
gives the youngsters a chance to get be- ,
yond their chick stage before they are |
overtaken with hot weather, which often
causes the death of many promising speci-
mems. The mortality amongst chicks is
always greatest during the hot weather,
and by getting them hatched early they |
are not so apt to succumb to its effects as
are the later hatched birds
Reducing the mortality is not, how
ever, the only reason advanced for early |
1t must be remembered that
the man who gets his birds cut early is
he one who usually gets the supply Of
eggs during the following winter when
he hold-oyer stock becomes inactive and !
therefore non-productive. The early
Matched birds will mature in time to pro-
luce at a season when eggs are scarce,
hus allowing you to take care of the fall
md winter egg trade. This is indeed an
tenn to consider carefully, for at such a
ime the product of the hen can only be
lad at a premium.
Fresh eggs today are bringing 10 cents
Der dozen in most markets, with pros
,ects of going still higher while packed
.ggs are worth fifty cents Think what
his means to the man whose birds are
aging fairly we'll How reioiced he must
eel with the fact that he has been sue
es7ful IN getting winter eggs.
il can be seen at a glance that the man !
5ho gets his matches off early is the one |
-ho reaps the larger rewards from his !
Ocks and in the end is successful. 1t is s
lso equally as important for the breeder / r
f fancy poultry to get his Matching don, /
arly as for one engaged in the CONNER
iaI end of the game.
The breeder of fancy poultry must re ?
Drt to early Matching in order that the b
may beready to exhibit at the q
Ill and winter shows, that is, if lie hopes :,
'r them % capture place in the dlstri- y
ltion of prizes. e
But to get back to incubation For il
lrly incubation it stands to reason. one Il
ust be reasonably well equipped. If al
lis condition is not a reality in your o
se, then you had best delay little un- &C
you can get everything i'll readiness
least, hold up until after the severest
rt of the winter has passed and then
ly upon proper feeding and care to
.ep the youngsters growing and to in u
re proper development. &C
A good place to operate the incubator w
a well-ventilated and comparatively Ie
delighted cellar. In manipulating the &C
lchine, no matter what its make. never
: to experiment with it, but on the con-
Try, follow closely the instructions fur vc