The Holly chieftain., 1922-03-23
The Selection Of EGGS And
The Hatching Of Chickens.

shells free from ridges cracks, trans
parent spots or deposits of lime
or other foreign substances should
be used. Avoid missing any de-
fects that do not show on he out.
side by using a candle.
Eggs that are to be used for
Matching need care. They should
be collected at least three times
daily and placed in room, the tenn
perature of which is between SO and
60 degrees. The place should be
clean and free from OdOrs which
might contaminate the eggs. The
eggs should be turned at least once
daily and il placed in filters should
always be placed small end down.
Eggs need not be washed though
there is no harm in wiping them
off with damp cloth, using weak
solution of some disinfectant. How
ever eggs should be washed off with
warm water if they have become
filth covered in the nest. No longer
than two weeks should elapse after
eggs are laid before using them for
Matching
The good old mother hen is still
the best incubator and brooder yet
there are disadvantages. 1t is often
difficult to get early setting hens.
She is apt to be lousy and the mites
and lice infest the chicks. The fuel
to keep her going that is enough
Of her to cover as many eggs as an
ncubator-costs more than by arti-
1cial Matching. Chicks properly
hatchod by an incubator and prop
rly brooded afterwards seem to be
as vigorous and to attain as high
vitality as hen-hatched eggs
There are many good incubators,
and one would do well to find out
rom his neighbors the one or ones
that have produced good results
and buy that kind. As the proof
Of the pudding is in the eating so
the proof of the incubator is in the
Using. However no Incubator
should be condemned unless given a
fair trial The main points are that
Darts should be readily accessible
,Or.cleansing and the lamp of such
4 sibe that medium flame will pro
luce the desired temperature. Any
fllel, kerosene. gas or electricity
.an be used. bu tthe thermOstat
which controls the temperature
I should be reliable. Too small a
Machine is not economical A capa
,ity of 24O to 260 eggs is best.
If only small number of eggs
are to be Matched the hen is best.
In sanitary. well ventilated place
prepare nest with four inches of
'od placed in the bottom and cut
itraw or hay for the nest proper.
The nest should be we'll rounded
and corners filled up, and large
anOugf to give ample room for the
eggs and prevent breakage.
In Matching select the gentle,
sasily handled hen and one not ner
,ous nor flighty. Keep the nest
powdered and sprayed and clean. Do
7Ot disturb her during the first day
of duty After that she can leave
the nest daily for fifteen minutes
1t a time. DO not change the To-
.ation of her nest after setting. She
prefers, too, u nest of her own choos
ing, when this is advisable. Bet
ter humor her when you can. The
eggs should be tested on the seveH.
tina nd fourteenth days and all In
| fertile eggs removed Some mex
perienced chicken raisers prefer not
% interfer with the nest at all and
let the hen do it all At least do
| not try. to help the chicks in incu-
batiOn. :.
If they cannot struggle out of
he shell they are not worth raising.
Kill all the weak chicks. Cultivate
great patience and keeu your tenn
per in the chicken business. A hen
IS notional: so you must be calm
| and rational. Remember she is
| working only for her bOard-and for
YOURS. r. she is a poor setter let
| her lay If she is good for neither.
eat her up. But appreciate her and
recgnize, though dumb creature,
yet she has her rights. ResOgnize
them. Cultivate her acquaintance.
She is your friend. The farmers OF
Colorado owe mech to the Colorado
hen.
| Mrs. Herbert McMillen and child
went to Lamar last Friday to join