POULTRY EXPERIMENTS. 



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SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 



Resting Eggs after transit before Incubating them. 



Poultry breeders and shippers of eggs for incubating purposes 

 frequently instruct purchasers to rest their eggs for 24 hours 

 after their receipt before putting them into incubators, claiming 

 better results from eggs so treated than where incubating com- 

 menced immediately upon their arrival. 



To watch the results of such treatment, all of the eggs laid by 

 26 White Wyandotte hens, from May 25th to June 2d, were 

 divided into two lots by alternating them as laid by each hen. 

 Part of the eggs laid each day were put in one lot and part in the 

 other. This and the alternating of the eggs was done so as to 

 secure as nearly as possible equal conditions in each lot. Both 

 of these lots of eggs were put in an ordinary shipping egg case 

 and sent from Orono by express, over the Maine Central and the 

 Bangor and Aroostook Railroads to Houlton and return, and 

 after remaining in the express office at Orono over night, the 

 journey to Houlton and return was repeated. The eggs were on 

 the road and waiting at the railroad stations about 36 hours, and 

 the distance covered was 514 miles. Upon their last arrival at 

 Orono, after transit they were immediately taken to the incu- 

 bator room, and one lot put into an incubator with a temperature 

 of 103 , while the other lot was allowed to rest 24 hours, at the 

 end of which time they were put into the incubator together with 

 the first lot. The day before hatching was due to commence, one 

 lot of the eggs was removed to another machine which had the 

 same temperature and moisture as the first one. This was done 

 so as to avoid the difficulties which might arise from the hatching 

 of eggs in the same machine with other eggs that were not due. 

 The details and results are shown in the following tables : 

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