The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-03-07
How to Operate an Incubator
tBy r. W. Kazmccr Poultry Husbandman, Extension servi
A. a NJ. College

This condition does not often exist,
unless moisture has been added reg
ularly during the Matching period.
II the chicks appear small and
some are seen with pieces Of shell
dried on the down and the shell
membranes very tough and leathcry,
Il is because Of too little moisture
In Texas, so-called nomenclature
machines give better results, II mois-
ture Is added, mt Matching time. This
~ especially true In West, Northwest
Texas and Oklahoma. In high alti-
tudes II Is also wise 10 add moisture
at Matching time.
Weak breeding stock produces
eggs with weak germs and chicks,
many Of which will die in the in
cubator.
We have also found that closely
yarded breeding stock will produce
eggs many Of which will be found
with dead chicks In the shell.
Chilling the eggs before incuba-
tiOn sometimes Is responsible for
dead chicks in the shell at Matching
time.
Matching eggs shipped any great
distance, and receiving rough hand
ling in transit often are responsible
for dead chicks in the she'll at hatch
ing time.
As general rule Il Is wise 70 add
moisture 20 the incubator at hatch
ing time. Experiments appear to
Indicate that moisture at Matching
time will prevent many chicks from
dying in the shell.
Another common cause OF dead
chicks in the she'll at Matching time
Is n lack Of fresh air In the lncuba-
tor room. We have noticed that in
cubetors operated in storm cellars
frequently are responsible for many
dead chicks in the shell at Matching
time. A storm cellar is n very poor
place in which to operate an incuba-
tor, because no provisions for yenti-
lation are made.
Uneven temperature in the incu-
bator is another cause Of dead chicks
in the she'll At Matching time. This
may be remedied by carefully turn
ing the eggs twice day, and shovel
ing the eggs around on the tray.
Matching eggs produced by hens
fed exclusively on oyster shells !
sometimes are SO hard and thick that |
many chicks die in the shell at
Matching time. This can well be |
noticed by the way white shelled |
and brown sholled eggs hatch. The !
brown shelled eggs. partly on ac-
count Of the thicker shells, do not |
hatch as well, as q general rule, |
than the more thin white shelled |
eggs.
Sometimes the ventilators are for
gotten and not opened or kept /
plugged" This has tendency 10 1
cause many dead chicks
One Of the best ways Of adding /
where moisture is 10 be supplied
regularly, is by placing shallow
sand tray beneath the egg tray,
without obstructing the ventilator
holes that may be in the bottom OF
the machine.
Old eggs seldom produce strong
and healthy chicks, and frequently
are responsible for dead chicks in
the she'll moisture to the eggs IN
an incubator, at Matching time.
Eggs produced by breeding stock
that has been forced for heavy egg
when placed m incuba-
tors develop into many dead germs
and chicks at Matching time. DO
not force breeding stock for abnOr-
nal egg production.
pullet eggs sometimes are 80 small
that the chick can not develop prop
crly and hatch, hence many Of them
will be found with dead chicks at
Matching time.
We do not believe that thunder
storms have any influence on eggs
under incubation.
Incorrect thermometers sometimes
are responsible for operating the in
at the improper tempera-
.ure resulting in dead chicks in the
hell at Matching time.
II the incubator should accidently
-un up temperature Of lOS to
10 degrees for several hours do
rot throw the eggs away--remove
he eggs from the incubator and
nth n HArIf i