Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-04-12
EGGS Fur MATCHING
REQUIRE MUCH CARE
EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT BEGINS
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE
REACHES 70 DEGREES.
GATHER EGGS FREQUENTLY
Eggs For Matching Should Be Kept
in a Cool and Dry
Place.

spoiled by improper handling between
the time they are produced by the
hen and the time incubation begins.
The embryo may be destroyed, or its
development seriously hindered, BY
subjecting the egg to uneven or ex-
treme temperatures, to an improper
moisture content of the air, to sud
den jar or constant vibrations, or to a
lack of turning.
Some development of the embryo
will take place at comparatively low
temperatures, that is. in the neighbor-
hood of seventy degrees or above. II
the development OF the embryo Is
once started and then stopped by the
temperature going too low, the en-
bryo will be destroyed. Excessively
low temperatures will weaken the VI
tality of the embryo. 1t is important,
then, that the eggs should be kept IN
as even temperature as possible.
and preferably between the limits OF
fifty sixty degrees. Eggs which
are allowed to remain in the nest for
two or three days at a time will be
subjected to great range OF temporal
lures. During the nights the temper.
atures will reach low points. and dur
ing the day the heat Of the sun, as
well as the heat from the bodies OF
hens upon the nest, will raise the tenn
perature to the incubation point. SO
that this is one of the worst possible
practices. Gather the eggs at least
once a day, and during either very
HOT or very cold weather, twice day
will be better.
II eggs are kept In a cellar, OF
damp place, the moisture OF the ali
will have the same action as water
applied directly to the shell. 1t will
slowly dissolve this coating. leaving
the pores Of the shell open and re-
suit in too rapid evaporation when
the eggs are incubated. Keep the
eggs in a cool, dry place.
The interior of the egg is a com
pick arrangement. II Is not neces
sary that every person burden them
selves with the exact meaning OF al
the component parts of an egg, such
as the vitellus, the blastoderm, The
meso blast, the chalazae, and others
+ It should suffice to say that the germ
or embryo is situated on the yOlk o
the egg which in turn is suspended II
the center Of the albumin, or white o
/ the egg, by thick, cOrd-like sub
stance. ANY sudden jar, or even {
constant vibration, will tend to weak
en- these supporting cords, allowin,
the yolk to move from its proper po
sition. Then, too, evaporation of waite
from the egg forms an air-cell in TIL
large end of the egg. The same jar
or vibrations will sometimes breal
the membranes forming this air-cell
allowing the contents of the egg t
move around freely. and destroyinl
the egg for Matching purposes. Whel
it is necessary to ship eggs for hatch
ing. or otherwise subject them to j.
or vibration, they should be securel
packed in such a way as to reduc
the shock as much as possible. Mos
Of the Matching egg boxes which ar
on the market are made with this Oh
ject in view.
The embryo is found on the uppe
portion of the yolk. The yolk has
tendency to float to the top Of tn
egg. II left in one position too Ion
the supporting chords becoming veal
ened, there is danger that the vol
will come into contact with the shell
and become attached. This would,
course, ruin the egg for incubatio
purposes. Then too, with the natur'
tendency for liquids to sink and air
rise, when eggs are left in one poo
ton the air cell may become mispla
ed, or irregular in shape. This r
suits in the developing chicken bein
forced into the wrong position In th
shell and making successful hate
impossible. There dangers can
avoided by regularly turning, rollin
} or otherwise changing the position {
} the eggs daily.
AT. Rolf, Poultry Specialist,
Live Stock Extension Service, Loui
! lana State University.