The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-09
OUR SPRING POULTRY
PLANS SHOULD BEGIN
Some Difficulties and Obstacles TO
Overcome in Raising Chickens.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 2.-The
poultry raiser on farm or in the city
who wishes to produce fall and win
ter eggs with by-product Of spring
"friers" should begin now to plan
for the early setting OF eggs, say
poultry specialists of the Z. 8. De-
partment 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 February and in the northern tier
Of States. from the latter part Of Feb
ruary to the early part of April. With
settings timed on this schedule the
chicks will hatch in ample time to al
low their maturity before cold wealth
er 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 "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 greer
stuff. The smaller breeds of chickens
can be hatched later than those which
are larger and slower to develop.
Incubation.
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 de-
pended upon exclusively it probably
will be best for the poultry raiser to
disregard dates and make settings
whenever broody hens are availab4.
A good nest for setting is made Of
wood, Is inches square and about Is
inches high, with top. The front is
open except for board inches high.
Three or four inches of damp earth
should be placed in such nest and
on this straw. hay or chaff should be
firmly packed. The hens should be
busted thoroughly with insect powder.
1t 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
warm room, preferably cellar. as d
protection against outside tempera-
ture changes. 1t should be disinfected
thoroughly before being used. with
solution of reliable coal tar disinfec-
tant. Instead Of using such sou-
tion a small receptacle containing one
half ounce Of permanganate of potash
on which one half ounce of formula
has been pourc3 may be shut up in
the incubator The resulting gas will
ter disinfection the incubator should
be run empty for several days TO get
it into good operating condition. Af-
ter the eggs are in place the tempera-
ture should be held at from 101 1-e
degrees TO 102 degrees F. the first
week 102 degrees to 103 degrees the
second week and at 103 degrees the
third week
The eggs usually are turned for
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
chambe- once daily after the seventh
and up to the nineteenth day.
Moisture should be furnished in ar
tiicial incubation in the South, sir
hieh attitudes. and when the ihcuba-
ton roomwj~ dry This may be done
by sprinkling eggs with warm water
OF by placing a wet sponge Or pan
Of water under the egg tray.
During the Matching period careful
ly fill the lamp and trim the wick
each day. 1t is best to trim tie Nick,
by scraping off the burnt portion
rather than by cutting the wick. The
lamp should not be filled entirel!-. At
ter the lamp is filled it should be
closely observed for a time to make
sure that the fame does not get too
high