Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-01

lining of the shell and adhering to 1t.
Revolving egg cabinets are made to hold
Matching eggs. The same results are OBJ
tanned by packing the eggs in cartons
or egg crates. and turning the container
over gently each day.
If the incubator trays stick. smooth
the bearing surfaces with sandpaper and
then rub them with soapstone.
Cats love to sleep in warm place.
The top Of the incubator near the heater
offers such comfort, but 1t Ia almost
certain to interfere with the heat -reeu-
lating control. Guard against this.
Older fowls make better sitting hens
than pullets. The heavier breeds are
more dependable than the light weight
varieties.
Isolate hens which are bringing off
matches. Layers have kind of con-
tempt for stters and constantly disturb
them.
At the close of the Matching season
the incubator lamp should be removed
from the machine. emptied OF oil and
stored away from dust. Wrap it in
paper. If the lamp Is left in the heater
of the machine the heater jacket and
other parts will absorb or attract a
certain amount Of oil, which will cause
the apparatus to smoke and smell badly
the next time the incubator is started
The same idea applies to lamp-heated
breeders.
This is the season to preserve eggs
1t rarely pays to help chicks out of
their shells at Matching time. unless they
become fouled in some way because Of
an accumulation of empty shells. Usu
ally the chick that is not strong enough to
liberate itself from the shell is not
strong enough to survive the brood
er. in which case there is moth
ing gained by trying to preserve
it. Moreover. it is difficult to help a
chick out of the shell without slightly
rupturing blood vessel in the navel
and whenever this occurs the chick is
sure to die.
FEED FOR FOWLS NEEDS
Chickens should be fed according to
their needs, and their needs vary with
the season of the year. the conditions
, of the weather. the purposes for which
the fowls are kept. their state of pro-
ductiveness. their general health and
their size. For instance. hens in heavy
laying consume almost twice as much
grain as idle ones.
Milyk in any form, fresh. sour. skim
med or buttermilk, is a wholesome feed
for poultry of all ages.
The formation of the yolk of the egg
requires about three weeks. The second
| process. that of accommodating the abu-
men or white" and forming the shell.
| is comparatively short, requiring about
| IS hours. 1t is a common thing for the
shell to harden while the hen is on the
| nest preparing to lay.
Duck eggs require % days to incubate,
and goose eggs 81 days.
The best system of keeping a record
of the fock's pedigree is one that in
| sures the greatest accuracy with the
greatest simplicity.
Chicks that are given outdoor free
dom are seldom, il ever, bothered with
| leg weakness. The trouble almost al
ways makes its appearance in fiocks that
are confined indoors on wooden floors.
II the chicks can't be liberated because
| Of unfavo-able weather, then make them
| exercise-make them dig in the litter
for the greater part Of their food. Leg
weakness means that the chicks body
| has grown too fast for the strength of
| the muscles Of It's legs. 1t is the result
of overfeedng coupled with insufficient
exercise.
Don't allow the hens to strike the
| job at the height of the laying season
by allowing them to become broody and
| idle away their time on the nests for
| weeks at a stretch. Break up those
maternal instincts, using harmless meas
ures, not cruelties.
| Chicks require the most warmth
against their backs, because of their
lungs.
THEORY OF KILLING LICE
Chjckeu lice hreafhe tbrouol, apira clos
or pores in their sides, hence they can
be suffocated by stopping up their
breathing with fine powder. The in
| stinct for hen to take dust bath is
natures way to kill these pests.