The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-27
SPRING POULTRY WORK.
Pullets for Egg Laying Next Fall and
Winter Should Be Hatched Early.

| The poultry raiser on farm or in city
who wishes to produce fall and winter
eggs with by-product of spring "fry-
ers' should begin now to plan for the
early setting of eggs, say poultry spe-
cialists of the United States department
of agriculture. In the states OF the ex.
treme 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 February to the early part
of April. With settings timed 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 de-
veloped to the point where they may be
turned out on the ground by the time
vegetation is ont, 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 time. If nat
ural incubation is depended upon ex-
clusively it probably viii 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 ehaf should
be firmly packed. The hens should be
busted thoroughly with insect powder.
1t is a good plan, also, to sprinkle a lit
tie of the powder in the nests.
Using an Incubator.
The suggested schedule can be followed |
exactly if an incubator is used. The ma
chine should be operated in warm room, |
cellar, as protection /
against outside temperature changes 1t |
should be disinfected thoroughly before
being used, with a solution of a reliabl !,
,oal tar disinfeetant. Instead of using
;uch solution a small receptacle con-
aiming one-hslf ounce of permanganate
# potash on which one-hslf ounce of
ormalin has been poured may be shut
Up in the incubator. The resulting gas
will thoroughly disinfect the machine.
- - ~ al
Ne run empty for several days to get
t into good operating condition. After
he eggs are in place the temperature
hould be held at from I0lla degrees to
or degrees F. the first week, l02 de-
rec to l03 degrees the second week, and
t l03 the third week.
The eggs usually are turned for the
rst time at the end of the second day
nd twice daily through the eighteenth
r nineteenth day. The eggs are cooled
Inside the Matching chamber once daily /,
fter the seventh and up to the nine
zenith day. Moisture should be fur 4,
ished in artificial incubation in the ,
Duth, in high attitudes, and when the
room is dry. This may be
one by sprinkling the eggs with warm
'ater or by placing a wet sponge or
an OF water under the egg tray.
During the Matching period carefully
Il the lamp and trim the wick each Q
iy. 1t is best to trim the wick by Y
,raping off the burnt portion rather J
san by cutting the wick. The lamp a
Mould not be filed entirely. After the c
mp is filed it should be closely OBJ p
rived for a time to make sure that the |;
anne does not get too high. \