The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1920-02-04
PROPER HANDLING
OF EGGS TO MAKE
GOOD MATCHES
Best of Incubation Can Not
Overcome Handicap of
Poor Eggs.
EGGS NEED WATCHING

Figs can not be expected from
thistles and neither can a full hatch
of strong chicks be expected from
poorlytselscted, carelesslyLhandied
Matching eggs. The hens may be faith
full sitters or the incubator, il one is
used be on its best behavior, but the
best Of incubation can not overcome
the handicap of poor eggs. Many a
person who gives the chicks the best
of care as soon as they are out OF
the shell bestows on the eggs he is
saving for Matching only the most
cursory attention and then when only
few birds hatch out is surprised and
grieyed at his poor luck Luck, those
who know say, doesn't enter into sue
cessful raising. 1t is eternal care and
vigilance on the part of the owner OF
the flock that spells success or failure
Breeding Stock Need Varied Diet
Strong, fertile eggs are the prime
essential in good Matching. These can
only be obtained from stock properly
mated and kept under the best pos
sible conditions to secure health and
vigor. Eggs from over-fat breeding
stock do not usually produce a large
percentage OF strong chicks. II breed
ers are confined they should be fed
varied supply OF grains, meat, and
green feed, say the poultry specialists
in the United States Department of
Agriculture The green feed assists in
keeping the fowls in good breeding
condition The range is usually an inn
portant factor also in the production
of hatchable eggs.
From to IL females of the Ameri-
can or general-purpose class, and IL
to Is of the Mediterranean class can
be mated with one male, depending
on his age and vitality. Abundant
ventilation in the house is great
help in keeping the stock in good
breeding condition.
Abnormal, small and poorly-shaped
eggs should be discarded Do not set
eggs which have thin or very porous
appearing shells. Eggs should be set
when fresh, if possible, and it is not
advisable to use eggs, for Matching
which are over two weeks old, al
though stale eggs will frequently
hatch. Selecting uniformly large eggs
for Matching, which are of the same,
color is one of the quickest ways to
secure uniformity in the offspring and
increase the size of the eggs.
Dirty eggs should be cleaned by
rubbing lightly with damp cloth, but
care should be taken not to rub OFT
any more of the natural bloom of the
egg than is absolutely necessary
! Broken eggs in the nest may coat the
rest with albumen If this is not wash
ed off the Matching qualities will be
impaired.
Do not Allow Eggs to Chill.
Eggs for Matching should be collect
ed two or three times day in treez-
ing weather to prevent chilling.
Broody hens allowed to sit on eggs
in the laying nests all day may hurt
the Matching qualities of the eggs
Eggs in large numbers are generally
kept in a cabinet or turning rack, for
convenience in handling, in room
where the temperature is between so
and 60 degree F., if possible, although
they will stand considerable variation.
1t is not necessary to turn eggs kept
only for few days, but it is advis-
able to turn eggs daily which are to
be kept over a week. Various COM
mercial turning devices are sold by
poultry supply companies, or the eggs
may be kept in cabinet drawers and
shuffled about with the hands by re-
moving a few eggs from the trays.
Commercial egg cases are sometimes
used for holding the eggs for hatch
ing.
Eggs from different varieties of the
same class of poultry may be incubat-
ed together, but it is not advisable to
mix white eggs with brown eggs as
white eggs aften hatch little earlier
than brown eggs.
Neither the hen nor the incubator
will hatch strong chicks from weak
germs or from eggs which have not
received proper care.