Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-13
THE POULTRY YARD
EGGS FOR HATchlNo.
BY Ed Weber
BY Ed Weber

In choosing eggs for hatching seIecI
those which are medium or average
size for the fowl producing them. As
rule very large or very small eggs
should be rejected. When hen al
ways produces large eggs that are nor
NAL they can safely be used. Abnor-
mally large eggs and those containing
more than one yolk should be culled
out. Eggs with thin, watermarked,
rough, scanned or checked shells should
not be saved for Matching. Those hav-
ing limy substances on the shell should
be discarded, as these lime warts are
apt to break off during incubation and
leave a hole in the shell that is fatal
to the contained embryo. If q breeder
should send you ill-shaped, poor thin
sheled eggs, enter a complaint direct
to the seller. If he does not make
good, don't trade there a second time.
When you buy Matching eggs you are
entitled to good, normal, sound shelled
eggs from healthy breeding stock and
should not receive Gull eggs.
Sex Of Eggs.
There is no known way Of determin-
ing the sex Of the chick by the APP
pearance Of the egg The theory of
foretelling the sex of the future chick
en- by the formation Of the egg is CEN
turtles old. In the writings Of Horace,
long eggs are mentioned as certain to
produce males. The position of the air
cell has also been supposed to indicate
the sex. Several we'll known writer's
Of recent years have expressed the be-
lief that long eggs or those having
wrinkled ends would produce males,
and that the smooth, round ones would
hatch pullets. There is absolutely no
foundation for this belief, as may be
easily ascertained by making a few
test matches. Several English writer's,
and more than one American, attribute
the control Of sex chiefly to the con-
dition Of the male bird, and they ap-
parently base their theory on good
ground. Briefly it is to the effect that
when the male is full Of vigor early
in the season cockerels are likely to
predominant in the chick from his pen.
Later in the season, as the males
strength and sexual vigor decreases,
the number Of pullets in his progeny
increases. However, when the male
bird apparently remains equally
healthy strong and vigorous turnout
the entire sea son, it IS a common
thing 70 have q majority Of ccckere!s
early in the season, while later on pull
lets predominant. From the same flock,
with as vigorous males as could be OBJ
tanned, the writer has had nearly two
thirds cockerels early in the season.
while later, in June and July matches
from 90 to 100 pullets have been OBJ
tanned from hatch of $50 chicks.
This, however. does not prove or dis
prove the theory. and it is highly prob
able that other elements. which we do
not understand or appreciate, enter
into the question Of control Of sex
in the offspring. There are many
theories and methods proposed for the
regulation Of the sex Of chicks, but
thus far none seem to prove depend
able when put to the test.
II you have male bird or q par
ticular mating which gives you a larg-
er percentage Of the desired sex In the
chicks you will do we'll to continue
breeding 1t or from the same line as
long as you can successfully, and take
whatever sex Of chicks you get with
as good grace as possible. It is not
probable that any one will discover
any infaIlible rule for the control OF
the sex Of future chicks, either by Sc
lection Of egg or handling and man
agement of the breeding stock.
Fertility.
The fertility or nom fertility of an
egg can be determined before incuba-
ton. 1t can't be done and keep the
egg whole. If the egg she'll is broken
and the germinal spot on the yolk Is
examined, an experienced observer can
say whether it is fertile or not. With
the shell whole and the egg known to
be from a flock with which males are
running, there is no test that will de-
ternline whether it is fertile or not
until the egg has been incubated for
few days. The fertility Of eggs de-
ponds chiefly on the condition of the
breeding stock, the number of females
allotted to one male, the conditions
under which they are kept and the
food
If the breeders are in poor condition
you will get many eggs that do not
hatch well, or that produce puny or
weakling chicks. Eggs may be fertile
and yet not hatch WELL This is be-
cause the germs are weak or poorly
nourished, because of poorly balanced
egg food content. This may be due to
debility on the part of the breeders or
to poor feeding. Similar trouble re-
suits from breeding from birds forced
for egg production or from a male that
has too many mates and is taxed be-
You'd his capacity. Where such condi-
lot oh ;ol, will - Al
stages Of incubation and some for sew
eral days after exclusion. The germ
may also be injured by overheating
the eggs Or keeping In too warm a
place while saving for Matching. Less
frequently trouble may result from
chilling the eggs. Strongly fertile eggs
from good, healthy stock will often
hatch well and produce good chicks
under apparently unfavorable condi-
tons. obviously the remedy for un.
productive eggs is to use only healthy
breeding stock and to keep the breed
ers in good condition by good food and
common sense care and management.
Gathering and Keeping Eggs.
Eggs for Matching should be gath
cred at frequent intervals to proven!
injury Severe chilling or frosting
should be avoided. Even more dan
gerous than chilling is allowing the
eggs to remain in the nest under hens
that are becoming broody and then re-
moving them to save for Matching.
Each egg intended for incubation
should be marked with the pen num-
Der where it was produced. This is
for the purpose Of Identification of the
ob;oly ana m ocnertaip tho co,,rca ne