The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1918-03-30
EGGS FOR MATCHING
REQUIRE MUCH CARE
EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT BEGINS
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE
REACHES 70 DEGREES.
GATHER EGGS FREQUENTLY
Eggs For Matching Should Be Kept
in Cool and Dry
Place.

Good Matching eggs may be easily
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 a sud
den Jar or constant vibrations, or to
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 time will be
subjected to great range Of tempera-
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 day, and during either very
hot or very cold weather, twice day
will be better.
II eggs are kept In a cellar, or
damp place, the moisture of the air
will have the same action as water
applied directly to the she'll. 1t win
slowly dissolve this coating. leaving
the pores of the shell open and re-
suit in too rapid evaporation when
the eggs are incubated. Keep tho
eggs in a cool. dry place.
The interior of the egg is com.
pick arrangement. It is not neces-
sary that every person Burden Them
selves with the exact meaning Of all
the component parts of ar egg, such
az 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 of
the egg which in turn is suspended IN
the center Of the albumin. or white Of
the egg, by thick, cord-like sub.
stance Any sudden jar, or even
constant vibration. will tend to weak
en- these supporting cords, allowing
the yolk to move from its proper 'po-
sition. Then, too. evaporation of water
from the egg forms an air-cell in the
large end Of the egg. The same jars
or vibrations will sometimes brealr
the membranes forming this air-ceH,
allowing the contents of the egg to
move around freely, and destroying
: the egg for Matching purposes. When
it is necessary to ship eggs for hatch
ing, or otherwise subject them to jar
or vibration, they should be securely
packed in such way as to reduce
the shock as much as possible. Most
of the Matching egg boxes which are
on the market are made with this OBJ
ject In view.
The embryo is found on the upper
portion of the yolk. The yolk has .
tendency to float to the top of the
egg. If left in one position too long
the supporting chords becoming weak
ened, there is danger that the yolk
will come into contact with the shell,
and become attached. This would, Of
course, ruin the egg for incubation
purposes. Then too, with the natural
tendency for liquids to sink and air to-
rise. when eggs are left in one posi-
ton the air cell may become misplac-
ed, or irregular In shape. This re-
suits in the developing chicken being
forced into the wrong position in the
shell and making successful hatch
impossible. These dangers can be
avoided by regularly turning, rolling.
or otherwise changing the position Of
the eggs daily.
A. F. Rolf. Poultry Specialist,
Live Stock Extension Service, Louis.
lana State University.