The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-12
SUGGESTIONS ON
 THE PURCHASE OF YOUR INCUBATOR
Choice of Many Makes Of fered- Select One Known
 In Your Neighborhood.

| Especial Information Service, S. De- partment of Agriculture.) | If you are concerned now with the selection of an incubator, you have i the choice of many reliable makes. Since it is not advisable to recom- mend any particular machine, you would best study the types and decide for yourself. Wherever possible it is well to select an incubator which has given satisfaction in your locality, so that you may get the benefit of the | experience of other operators nearby. Some machines have become popular 1 in certain sections of the country be- cause they were advertised extensive ly in that section rather than because of adaptability to the climatic condi- tions.
 Don't Buy Cheap Machine
 Cheap machines are less reliable, require more attention and wear out much quicker than higher priced in- cubators. As the value of the ma chine is small compared to the value of the eggs used during the normal life of the incubator, it is poor econo- my to purchase a machine that is not reliable.
 The details of construction and equipment of most incubators are so subject to change that it is impos- sible to state definitely the best kind of lamps, brackets, regulators and other equipment for the different in- cubators. The lamp should have a bowl large enough to hold sufficient oil to burn at least 36 hours under av- craze weather conditions; it should be easy to remove and replace and set absolutely tight in position. The incubator should be set so that the lamp is at a convenient height and the egg tray convenient to handle.
 Size of Machine to Get
 The best size of an incubator to buy depends upon circumstances. It takes about as much time to care for a 60 as it does for a 360 egg ma chine, so that it is generally advis- able to got one of at least 150-egg ca pacity, although special conditions of ten exist which make smaller ma chimes valuable. A small machine is often used in connection with a larger one, placing all the eggs in the large machine after the first or second test. Incubators of from 300
 to 400 egg capacity are generally . used on those large farms which use
 individual lamp incubators. Many
 poltrymen believe that it pays to have
 an incubator capacity large enough to Latch the bulk of their stock in two
 or three matches, so that much time is saved in tending to the incubators and breeders, while the chickens are
 more even in size than those that are [ matched when the incubating period extends over a longer time. A fai1 2 estimate for a poultry farm is an in cubator space of one-egg capacity pel . hen, provided that about one-half o1 . the flock is to be renewed yearly anc y no outside matching is carried on. Int 3 larger machines cost less in propor = tion to their capacity than the small
 CT ones.
 Early Hatch, Early Layers :, February, March and April are tn n best months to hatch chickens, bu !. the sooner it can be done the better :. Matching should be completed if pos n sible by the first of May. Chicken e matched before this time will have good chance to mature and be in lay :ng condition as bullets before tn
 cold weather of fall sets in, an , should in consequence, be producer if during the entire fall and winter. Thf :, is one of the chief reasons pouItr
 specialists of the United States De d partment of Agriculture are urgfn o the importance this year of the carr ,f Latch. Early matched chickens ar 5 also easier to raise. as they live ln IT thrive better than those which ar |, still small when the hot weather be '- gins.
 How to Help the Incubator
 Follow the manufacturers direc tions in setting up and operating a i, incubator.
 See that the incubator is runnin steadily at the desired temperatur s before filling with eggs. Do not ad :; g. fresh eggs to a tray containing egg which are undergoing incubation.
 Turn the eggs twice daily after tn
 second and until the nineteenth da, t. Turn the eggs before caring for tn l. lamps. 1r Attend to the machine carefully m regular hours.
 G. Keep the lamp and wick clean. s, Test the eggs on the seventh an ,e fourteenth days.
 to Do not open the machine after th es eighteenth day until the chickens al SC matched.
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