Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-05

FOR chicks TO be injured in a mrchine.
either by conditions In the machine
or by the operator. due to rough
handling. Some machines are fitted
with nursery drawers, located under
the egg trays, so arranged that as the
chicks hatch and subsequently crawl
toward the glass door of the incubator,
attracted by the light. they fall
through an opening in the tray to
the nursery drawer below. 1t is a
convenient arrangement, because 1t
relieves the congestion on the tray
and serves to &C; tho chicks away
from tho tanGlc or empty shells and
unmatched eggs.
The distance between the tray and
the bottom OF tho nursery drawer may
not exceed ciEh, inches. but il the
chicks strike tho drawer hard as they
arc likely TO do, they are apt 10 in
jure themselves. They have not far
10 fan. yet they drop three sr four
times the height OF their body. No
mother would think OF dropping her
baby similar distance
On the twentieth day OF Incubation
the embryo abSorbs what remains OF
the yolk: II is drawn into the body a:
the umbilicus or navel opening. the
abdominal wall closing over the open-
ing. This section OF the body is very
tender for several days, or until the
cord has had an opportunity TO heal
\ shock or bruise is likely 10 start
bleeding. and. though only a drop o.
blood is lost, it Is almost certain 10
prove fatal. That is why it is so diff
hcu't 10 have any success in assisting
chicks from the shell; the operator
invariably ruptures the umbilicus and
the chicks die within few hours.
Chicks should remain very quiet for
the first twcnty-four hours; they
should be encouraged to sleep as much
as possible. Under the hen they are
as still as death; in fuct one might
suspect that they were dead In the
incubator the chicks are in state OF
forced restlessness, unless certain
precautions arc taken. and 1t is this
icstessncss which makes for rough
and tumble treatment.
Nursery drawers arc not 10 be CON
demned. but they should be fitted with
a piece of hurlan in such way that
the chicks are made TO roll into the
drawer and not fan like a piummet
II Is easy TO contrive suitable device
10 break the force OF the fall
Another good plan Is to darken Nh.
Interior OF the incubator by covering
the glass door with 4 curtain. The
darkness keeps the chicks quiet. and
theH VIII spread out freely over the
| bottom o: the NSrsery. Otherwise the
! entire brood viii struggle toward the
/ front OF the machine whore il il
| !ght' tramnle one another, attempt TO
| climb up the door and keep Up con
slant state OF restlessness
! DO Nor HANDLE
CHICKS WITH COLD HANDS
In removing chicks from the incu-
/ baior 20 the brooder, be careful not
| TO drop them; do not handle them
! roughly or with cold hands. and do not
| permit them 10 become chilled In tram
| SIT injuries are seldom recognized
/ ~ th!S time; the operator MAY be en-
| urclY unaware or any i'll treatment
! y rev days later. however, the chicks
ule n|sicriousty and the real cause
| OF the loss is never asccrtaised. Re
member newly Matched chicks show
very few symptoms OF illness until
| 'hey are so far gone that remedial
measures are hopeless
! Wherever possible chicks should be
moved al night, when they are ouic,
Garry them IN basket OF shallow hoy