T158 RiRAL School Leaflet 



the outer edges of the tray, and those at the outer edges toward the 

 center. It is not necessary that each egg be turned exactly halfway 

 over. When handling the eggs, care should be taken that no kerosene 

 touches them, for it will injure the growing germs within the eggs. 



Cooling the eggs. — While the eggs are being incubated, and the chickens 

 are developing within the shells, they need a large amount of fresh air. 

 One of the ways of providing this is to leave the tray containing the eggs 

 outside of the incubator for a short time after the eggs have been turned. 

 This is called cooling the eggs. During the second week the eggs may be 

 cooled for a short time each day after they have been turned in the morn- 

 ing and while the lamp is being cared for. During the third week the 

 eggs may be cooled both morning and night. The length of time that the 

 eggs may be cooled, depends a great deal on the temperature of the room. 

 They should not be cooled until they feel cold to the hands, but they 

 should be slightly warm when returned to the incubator. 



Care of the incubator after the eighteenth day. — The eggs should be turned 

 and cooled for the last time at the end of the eighteenth day. The incu- 

 bator should not be opened again from this time until the hatch is com- 

 pleted. The lamp should be cared for as usual, and the temperature 

 should be watched carefully. The eggs are giving off a considerable 

 amount of heat at this time, and the temperature is inclined to rise very 

 high, but it should be kept down to 104° F. b}- lowering the lamp flame. 

 If the temperature nms up to 105° F. for a short time, no harm will be 

 done. Very often when the hatch is nearly over, the temperatt:re will 

 go down very rapidly. Care must be taken that this does not happen 

 because a low temperature at this time will injure the wet chicks. 



Cleaning the incubator. — As soon as the chicks are through hatching, 

 the incubator should be opened and the egg tray and all eggshells removed. 

 If there are any ventilators, they should be opened at this time. In the 

 absence of sufficient ventilation the door may l3e opened slightly to pre- 

 vent the chicks from panting. The chicks should be left in the incubator 

 about twenty-four hours and then removed to the brooder. 



The incubator is always more or less soiled after a hatch is completed 

 and should be thoroughly cleaned by washing with warm soapy water. 

 It is also well to disinfect the incubator after every hatch, for this will 

 help to prevent disease among the little chicks. The incubator may be 

 disinfected by spraying the inside with a pint of warm water containing 

 a tablespoonful of zen oleum, creolin, or any other good disinfectant, 

 which can be purchased at a drug store. 



Editors' note. — Many older boys and girls operate incul^ators in the 

 spring. It is worth while to know how chickens may be hatched artificially 

 with an incubator, as well as naturally with a hen. 



