The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-13

INCUBATOR CHICKS RI
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agricultural
February, March and April are the
best months to hatch chickens, de-
pending somewhat upon the individual,
as well as the climatic conditions. Set
up the incubator according to the
manufacturers directions, and see
that the machine is perfectly level.
Ii spirit Level Is not available,
long shallow pan of water set on top
of the incubator can be used as level
to assist In setting up the machine. Be
sure that all parts of the incubator are
In their proper positions and that the
regulator works freely. Do not plane
sticks, until the machine has been
heated up and thoroughly dried. Run
the machine at about 102 degrees
Fahrenheit fer day before putting
In the eggs. it takes several hours for
the machine to come back to its cor
rect temperature after the eggs are
first put in; therefore the regulator
should not be touched during that
time. See to the regulation OF the
temperature Of the incubator before
opening the door of the machine to at
tend to the eggs. Look to the care
of the incubator carefully and regular
ly, but do not change the regulator
any more than Is absolutely neco6-
sary.
When the bulb of the thermometer
rests directly on the eggs the tenn
perature Is usually held at 1O1h to
1O2 degrees Fahrenheit the first week,
1902 to 1O3 degrees Fahrenheit the sec
heit the third week; while hanging
thermometer is operated at about 1902
to 1924 degrees Fahrenheit the first
two weeks and 103 degrees Fahren-
heit the last week. At Matching time
the machine Will frequently run up to
1O4 or 105 degrees Fahrenheit with
out any injury to the chickens. If the
temperature has been right up to the
Matching time, it is usually better not
to change the regulator at that time,
provided the temperature does not run
above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. While
the eggs will hatch just as well If the
temperature is run slightly higher than
noted above, throughout the hatch the
chickens are apt to be weak and hard
to raise. In good hatch the eggs will
start to pip on the evening of the nine
teenth day, and most of the chickens
will be out OF the shell on the morning
of the twenty-first day. If the hatch
Is much earlier or later than this 1t in
dicates that the conditions during incu-
baton have not been right. high
temperature may hatch eggs too quick
" and produce weak chickens, while
a continuous low temperature through
out the hatch will delay it for several
hours.
Use good oil. Clean and fill the
lamp once daily, trimming the wick
by scraping the charred portion off
with knife or squnre-edged nail, or
by cutting the wick with scissors.
Care Of Machine at Matching Time.
After the eggs begin to hatch, leave
the machine alone until the hatch Is
well over. Do not open the door to see
how the eggs are Matching, as it allows
the moisture to escape, which is very
essential at this time Keep the incu-
bntor dark at Matching time by cover
ing the glass In the door with cloth
or burlap sack so that the chicks will
not be attracted to the front of the
machine by the light and become rest
less. When the chicks are all Matched,
remove the egg tray and open the ven
| tilators, according to the manufacture
er's directions, and keep them in the
| incubator from "a to SO hours after
the hatch is over before removing
| them to the breeders. If they are to
be shipped long distance away, so
that they will be on the road two or
three days, 1t is better to ship them as
soon as the hatch is over and the
chicks are thoroughly dry. Chicks
which pip. but are unable to get out
of the shell by their own efforts, rare
Iy amount to much If helped out, al
though. If desired, when most of the
eggs are Matched and the chicks dried
off so that they win not be injured by
opening the Incubator door, any which
have pipped may be helped out by
cracking the shell and placing them
back on the egg tray.
Turning and Cooling the Eggs.
Eggs should be turned and cooled
according to the directions furnished
with the incubator. The eggs are usu
ally turned for the first time at the
end of the second day of incubation
and twice daily through the eighteenth
and nineteenth day, or until the
chicks commence to pip. After turn
| ing the eggs, reverse the egg trays
end for end, and from one side of the
machine to the other in two-tray incu
hators. Keep the incubator dool
closed while turning the eggs, unles: