286 AX EGG FAKM. 



One celebrated machine, invented by a very eminent 

 expert, has a clock attached which turns the eggs every 

 twelve hours whether the attendant is in the room, or in 

 the same county, or not. There are other machines 

 contrived so that the attendant himself may work an 

 apparatus to turn the eggs without taking them out of 

 the egg chamber. There is considerable work involved 

 in turning and otherwise thoroughly caring for a large 

 number of eggs in an incubator, trimming the lamps, 

 etc. decidedly more work than is needed in caring for 

 an equal number of eggs under hens and managing the 

 sitting birds, provided the natural method is followed 

 under a first-class system. Hence it is natural enough 

 for incubator attendants to welcome labor-saving, egg- 

 turning devices. 



But whatever method of turning is followed there are 

 certain steps which must never be omitted. The trays 

 must be turned end for end, and if there are two trays 

 these must change places every time the eggs are turned, 

 while if there are four trays, each should, in the course 

 of two days' routine, occupy each of the four corners of 

 the egg chamber. Furthermore, and here is an impor- 

 tant matter too often neglected, the eggs at the center 

 of each tray must, at least once a day, and twice is bet- 

 ter, be made to change places with those at or near its 

 edges. There is a knack in doing this to reduce the 

 bother to the minimum. First seize as many outer eggs 

 as can be grasped in both hands, and place them on top 

 of those at the center of the tray, then gently crowd the 

 top layer down, rolling them from side to side mean- 

 while, to make them settle down and displace the others. 

 This will roll every egg in the tray and fill the vacant 

 places at the edges. Thus, the changing from the 

 warmer to the cooler positions and the turning are 

 accomplished at the same time, the trays being, of 

 course, without partitions. 



