REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 253 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



several farmers in the neighbourhood of Carleton Place, Ont., in May last, raised 

 many hundreds of chickens. A visit to the farm of Mr. Alexander McLean, of 

 Kamsay, near the town named, in the month of July last, showed 161 fine Barred 

 Plymouth Rock chicks, and on the same day to the farm of Mr. Joseph Yuill, in the 

 same locality, 350 fine chicks, also Barred Plymouth Kocks. Results were obtained 

 in both cases by the successful operation of incubators,, and outside brooders, by the 

 wives of the farmers named. The chickens in both cases made rapid growth, and in 

 the latter instance were sold at the end of August to a Toronto fattening firm for 11 

 cents per pound live weight. Both were satisfactory instances of the second method^ 

 as outlined above, and recommended to farmers who use artificial means. 



COULD THE SAME RESULTS HAVE -BEEN SECURED WITH HENS ? 



It may be said that the same results could have been secured by the use of hens. 

 But experience has shown that it is almost impossible to get a sufficient number of 

 broody hens early enough in the season wherewith to hatch out the niunber of chicks 

 of the same age, so much desired. By the time a sufficient number of sitters could be 

 secured under ordinary circumstances, the season would be advanced and the chickens 

 unavoidably late. Again, the freedom of the chicks hatched and reared by artificial 

 means, from lice, is a great factor in the rapid progress of the young chicks. 



DIFFICULTIES MET WITH IN FIRST METHOD. 



In connection with the first alternative, viz., the hatching of chicks from eggs 

 laid by hens before the latter have had a run outside, the following experience has 

 been gained : — For three seasons past an incubator of medium capacity was filled at 

 end of March with eggs obtained from hens, the majority of which had laid well 

 during the winter season previous. The fowls were also in comparatively limited 

 quarters and had been gently stimulated to lay. From the period of going into winter 

 quarters — beginning of December until the snow went off the ground — it was impossible 

 for them to run outside. The results obtained were most unsatisfactory, and the 

 conclusion was arrived at that machines, condition of stock, methods, or men, or a 

 'combination, were at fault. 



During the three seasons that observation was made of the eggs while hatching, 

 and subsequently of those which did not hatch, results unmistakably showed : 



1. A fairly satisfactory number of fertile eggs. 



2. A large percentage of dead chicks in different stages of development from 10th 

 to 18th days. 



3. A number of fully developed chickens dead in the shell about pipping time. 



4. That it was not so hard to get the fertilized egg, as the strong germs so necessary 

 to hatch the robust chickens. 



SIMILAR EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE. 



So important was it considered to ascertain the cause, or causes of the unsatis~ 

 factory results enumerated and to find a remedy therefor, if possible, that leave was 

 asked for and obtained for the purpose of visiting the experts in charge of some of 

 the large Canadian plants. A visit was first paid to the poultry departmert of the 

 Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, and the subject was thoroughly discussed 

 with the manager of that department, Mr. W. R. Graham. His establishment 

 embraced an incubator room, and commodious brooder-house of the most approved 

 plans. His opportunity for investigation and observation was therefore exceptionally 

 good. His experience was that early January eggs gave 50 per cent of results, but 

 that later eggs were most unsatisfactory, and were so until the breeding stock had 



