Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-02-23
SPRING POULTRY WORK
Pullets for Egg Laying Next Fall
and Winter Should Be Hatch
ed Early.


eggs with by-product of spring 'fry-
ers" 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 settings tim
ed 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 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.
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 depended upon
exclusively il probably 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, Is inches
square and about Is inches high, with
a 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 dusteds 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 follow
ed exactly ii an incubator is used The
machine should be operated in warm
room, preferably cellar, as a protec
ton against outside temperature
changes. Ii should be disinfected
thoroughly before being used, with a
solution OF reliable coal;tar disin-
fectant. Instead of using such a solu
ton small receptacle containing one
half ounce OF permangate of potash on
which one-half ounce of formalin has
been poureu may be shut up in the
incubator. The resulting gas will thor
oughly disinfect the machine. After
'disinfection the incubator should be
run empty for several days to get it in
to good operating condition. After the
eggs are in place the temperature
should be held at from 1917 degrees to
l02 degrees F. the first week, 102 de-
grees 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 chamber once daily.
after the seventh and up to the nine
teenth day. Moisture should be furnish.
ed in artificial incubation in the South,
in high attitudes, and when the incu-
bator room is dry. This may be done
by sprinkling the eggs with warm
water or by placing wet sponge or
pan Of water under the egg tray.
During the Matching period carefully
fill the lamp and trim the wick each
day. II is best to trim the wick by
scraping off the burnt portion rather
than by cutting the wick. The lamp
should not be filled entirely. After
the lamp is filled it should be closely
observed for time to make sure that
the flame does not get too high.