61^6 Af/rlcul/ural Gazette of N.S.W. [_Au(j. 3, 1908. 



supplied witli the incul)iit()r, or it is only necessary to concentrate tlic li.ulit 

 on the cut,'' in some manner. A caiKlle or lamj) in a l)o.\ or tin, with a hole 

 the size of an egg cut in it, used in a darkened room, will suit the puriiose. 

 The (hij testing seems th(» preferable way, as there is less chance of the eggs 

 getting cold. 



The Germ is actually alive when the hen la^^s the egg, hut goes into a 

 state of coma when the egg cools off, the visits of the hen to lay the next egg 

 livening it up for a while, and providing against same getting too coM. Tliis 

 points to i\w necessity of careful treatment of eggs for hatching pui'poses, 

 already spoken of. Once sufficient heat is applied for thirty-six hours to the 

 germ, same will die if deprived of it. Tt is not visible to the naked eye with 

 a tester till about the fourth day. Tt will first be seen in a '"ed spider-like 

 appearance, perhaps with an outside i-ing. Sometimes one or more veins will 

 be seen descending from the air-cell ; hut wliere a vein aj)pears alone and 

 disconnected, or two or one black spots are seen, the germ is dead. If the 

 germ travels round as the egg is turned, it is an indication the bird which 

 laid the egg was too fat, and same is unlikely to hatch. If the egg is clear, 

 except for the yolk, as when ptit in, the egg is infertile, and these eggs are 

 ([uite good for use in puddings, i^'c. Testing should be done again twice, say 

 on the tenth and fifteenth day, to remove any dead eggs, - 



Hatching. — When the eggs begin to chip on the day or so before they are 

 due, close the incubator, and leave it shut till it is thought all the chicks are 

 out. Where a lower part is provided for the hatched to drop down to, they 

 are doubly safe : but they are well enough on the tray, even if they pant a 

 lot. Opening the floor to shift them or help, only lets out heat and moisture, 

 and harms the hatch. As to turning eggs risjht side up that have chipped 

 underneath, it is not necessary. The makers of some machines advise not to 

 turn fowls' eggs after the nineteenth day, and duck eggs after the twenty-sixth 

 day, to provide against this happening. The completed liatch can be shifted to 

 hens, or a foster-mother heated from 9;") degrees to 1 00 degrees Fahr. No food 

 is necessary for a day. Nature having provided for that in the part of the 

 yolk drawn into their systems. The small piece of skin on chicks' beaks 

 must never be touched ; this is simply to protect the beak wliile knocking 

 against the shell. Tt will fall off. Tlnally, as to tempeiuture to run the 

 incubator at — any degree of heat from 97 degrees to 106 degeees I"'ahr. will 

 hatch, but 103 degrees is considered best for fowls' eggs, and 102.', degrees 

 for duck eggs. Considerable ^'ariation over or above for any length of time 

 is harmful. The heat recorded will increase as the eggs are incubated, and 

 must be regulated as necessary. Accidents, of course, will occur — -cracked 

 6ggs ami high or low temperatures — but it is very hard to say what will 

 actually kill the germs, especially if they are several weeks old. In conclu- 

 sion, run the incubator according to the maker's rules, and do not start 

 hatching unless you have a sure means of brooding, as the raising of young 

 chicks is by far the hardest part. 



