The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-18
Professor Stoneburn's Poultry Bulletins
INCUBATORS HATCH
GOOD CHICKENS
Modern Machines Are Automatic and Easy
to Operate.

rUE6AIy 1OCaL1OM anu one WnSF9 the
sun may strike the machine.
See to it that the incubator sets
perfectly level, adjusting II by
means of q carpenters level. A
slight elevation Of one side or one
end win make decided difference
In the temperature Of the CORE
spending spart OF the egg tray.
Then operate it for q day or Two
before putting the eggs in. Learn
exactly how to manage the lamp
and the regulator. Do this expert.
menting while the egg chamber is
empty and no damage can be done
II you guess wrong.
For the lamp, use good grade
of oil. Poor oil is unsafe because
1t gives of q smoky flame and the
wick may become crusted with
SCOT and theS heat passages choked
with 1t.
USE NEW WICKS.
Use q new Iampwick for each
hatch. If the wick is not regularly
changed, 1t may become too short
to reach the. oil and the flame will
die out. That means trouble and
loss.
Fin the lamp and trim the wick
daily. For the latter, Q knife
blade Is usually better than scis-
sors. Merely trim off the en-.
crusted top Of the wick. seeing 70
it that 8 the corners are nicely
turned so no. long tongues Of flame
may strike the inner wall Of the
heater. Attend to this work after
the eggs have been turned, to avoid
the possibility Of getting oil on the
eggs from oily hands. .
personally prefsr to fiji the
lamps late in the afternoon or
early in the evening. as this in
sures clean wick and full oil
reservoir during the night. when
the machine is not under observa.
ton. If the flame Is right when
the last, inspection IL made. It will
probably remain 50 the rest Of the
night.
In order to get big matches It Il
necessary to use good, hatcilable
eggs. No incubator can hatch in.
fertile eggs or those which are
|incubators have been condemned
because they were loaded with
eggs which. would not hatch un,
der any conditions. Give your
machine q fair chance. % e<stA i.
TAKE NO CHANCES.
And be sure the Che Tnometer Il
accurate. The thermometer Ii your
guide. II 1t does not tell you the
truth. 1t win lead you astray. A
/ difference of single degree IN
Temperature during the three weeks
of incubation. will have q decidedly
bad effect upon the hatch.
To be certain that your instru
ment is correct, compare it with 9
certified clinical thermometer. Il
necessary, buy one Of the latter Tor
this purpose. It will come in handy
| in many other ways, too. Heat
water to 100 to los degrees, place
| the two Thermometers therein side
by side and compare.
Once the regulator is adjusted
the temperature Of the egg cham
Der will be automatically controlled
Ventilation and moisture are more
troublesome. One needs experiences
i to properly govern these factors
Possibly the best plan is to check
up by setting a hen at the same
time the incubator Is sarted and
compare he development OF the
air cells In both LOTT Of eggs, using
an egg tester. Consider the hen as
being correct, then so adjust condi'
tons in the incubator as to make
the eggs 'dry down" at the same
rate as those under the hen. II the
air cell is too small, use less water
and more ventilation. and vice
versa.
There's a heap Of fun to be had
from running an incubator. Some
troubles, too-but try it. It is q
necessary part OF the experience OF
the real pOultryman.