Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-20
TESTING EGGS
DURING INCUBATION
1nfertile Ones Can Be Salvaged
and Fed to the Chicks-Re-
move Dead EmbryOs-Condi-
ments, Disinfectants, Vermin
Other Henyard Hints
by II. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS

'E '' Az INoA>b
Unfortunately, however carefully the
breeding pens may be mated, 1t does
not follow that all of the eggs therefrom
will run fertile. BY fertile is meant the
capacity of the life germ or embryo,
sometimes spoken of as the germinal
disk. to develop into n chick. This in
capacity is duo to the absence of fertil-
ization. Such eggs are known as in
fertile, sterile or clear eggs.
on the other hand, all fertile eggs
are not capable of normal development.
The germinal disk may start life and
in a few days expire. or the embryo
may attain considerable size and hen
die, which is usually caused by some
reproductive weakness of the hen or by
improper care of the egg either before
Matching or during the hatch. In poul-
try parlance such eggs are called dead
! germs.
1t is considered good practice to re-
move these nonhatchable eggs during
the period of incubation, especially II
the Matching is done artifcially. There
fore, it is necessary for the incubator
operator to test or candle the eggs;
first for fertility, on or about the sew
enth day, later for the strength of the
embryos, toward the close of the hatch.
Some operators prefer to make only one
test. about the 10th day. with the idea
of detecting both infertile riggs and dead
germs at the one operation. This plan
is satisfactory when 1t is known that the
rate of fertility is high, as is usually
the case with Leghorns and similar
breeds.
Hatches can be brought off without any
testing: witness the hen that steals her
nest; but it is not considered good prac-
tice, for the following reason:
BY removing the clear eggs as soon
as they can be detected. and in the case
of white -shelled eggs, it is no trouble to
examine the contents on the third or
fourth day of incubation. Such clear eggs
can be used as food on the home table
or hard-boiled and fed to little chicks,
in which case the eggs are chopped up,
including the shells. and mixed with
stale breadcrumbs. This mixture makes
one of the best first feeds for baby chicks.
The mixture should be sprinkled with
fine grit, to aid digestion. and fed on a
clean board.
SAVES SPACE IN INCUBATOR
Clear eggs are edible: their quality has
not been impaired. except that they have
endured n certain amount of evaporation.
And because of this evaporation hey
should not be sold as fresh eggs. I'm
derstand, however. this refers strictly
to the clear eggs, not to the dead germs.
The latter are worthless, except as fer
tllizer. and should be treated as lead
animal matter, for such they are. A
good plan Is to bury them in the manure
pit or compost heap.
Apart from the economy of salyagine
the clear eggs as food, which is con-
siderable when one bears in mind that
the infertile eggs sometimes run 20 to
20 per cent. by removing the nonhatch-
able eggs as soon as possible additional
room Is created on the incubator rays,
which means greater ease and efficiency
In turning and handling the developing
eggs. This is a worthy feature, indeed,
especially If the trays are started full.
as all who have run an incubator will
attest. A crowded tray is difficult to
turn, yet 1t is advisable to start the tray
full. In view of the ~nonhatchable eggs
which must be eliminated.
In other words. there Is no objection
to crowding the trays. even to the point
of standing the eggs in a somewhat OBJ
lique position. providing the large ends
or the eggs are kept uppermost, il the
eggs, being white. are tested on the
third day. which is the day turning
begins. and the clear ones removed.
thereby making room for the balance
Without crowding.
This idea cannot be carried out with
brown-shelled e because it is diff
ticult to test them before the seventh
day. due to the thickness and general
%opaqueness of the Shell, You have to turn
the hrnwn nUrg fn,. ,,A. .-. $500
they are tested, which makes It out of
the question to crowd the trays, as pre-
viously described for white eggs. 1t Is
and at the same time keep the large
ends of the eggs uppernost.
HOW TO MAKE TESTS
1t is more complicated 10 describe the
work OF testing Matching eggs than 1t
is to perform the work. In fact, the most
inexperienced person will nave no diff
Guilty in Distinguishing the fertile from
the i~nfertile eggs. 50 apparent are the
distinctions.
Inc clear egg appears absolutely trans
lucent, except for a floating shadow,
which is easily distinguished as the yolk.
The live germ five days old, or less, re-
semples a spider. the body of the en-
pryo representing the body Of the spider,
and the radiating blood-vessels its legs.
The embryo is located about one-third
the distance from the large end of the
egg. and floating quite freely. If the en-
bryo Is not detected at first glance. give
the egg a quick twist. and the Spider"
will come into view.
lf, instead of the floating spider-like
germ. there is a bright red line in the
shape or a semicircle. or a red streak
nxed to the shell. 1t indicates a dead
germ sometimes a dead germ takes the
form of a dark spot adhering to the shelI
membrane. Such egg should be discard
co. IL the embryos in some eggs ap-
pear very much smaller than others. it
Is likely the germs are weak and lack
the vitality to develop. But do not dis
card these eggs unless you are an ex-
perienced operator. The best plan ia To
mark them. as with a pencil. and replace
them in the machine for further obser.
walton.
To examine the contents Of an eRr. n
process known as Gambling, the egg Ia
held before a spot Of light, in a dark
ened room. and the shell of the egg be-
Ing translucent. the inside works are
made visible. There are many types Of
egg testers. the simplest device consisting
OF a metal chimney to fit over a lamp
burner. On one side of the chimney
there is a small opening, against which
the egg Is held for examination, Man.
ufacturers of incubators usually furnish
such a tester with each machine.
A trayful OF eggs can be tested In