44 The Machine as a Mother. 



Avoid opening the egg-drawer frequently, as it allows too 

 much escape of heat, and be careful not to open it when the 

 chicks are hatching, unless compelled, as it causes loss of heat 

 and moisture at a critical time. 



Cold drafts on the chick at this time are fatal. Do not ob- 

 lige visitors. Be sure your thermometer is true, as half the 

 failures are due to incorrect thermometers. Place the bulb 

 of the thermometer even with the eggs that is, when the ther- 

 mometer is lying down in the drawer with the upper end 

 slightly raised, so as to allow the mercury to rise; but the bulb 

 and eggs should be of the same heat, as the figures record the? 

 heat in the bulb, and not in the tube. 



Turn the eggs twice a day at regular intervals six o'clock 

 in the morning and six o'clock at night. Do not let them cool 

 lower than 70 degrees. Turn them by taking a row of eggs 

 from the end of the tray and placing them at the other end, 

 turning the eggs by rolling them over with your hand. By re- 

 moving one row you can roll all the rest easily. Give no 

 moisture the first week, very little the second, and plenty the 

 third week. Do not sprinkle the eggs. For moisture, put a 

 wet sponge the size of an egg (placed in a flat cup) in each 

 tray the second week, and two sponges in each tray the third 

 week. Do not put in sponges until you are about to put 

 up the drawer, after turning. Wet the sponges by dipping in 

 hot water. After the first ten days the animal heat of the 

 chicks will partially assist in keeping the temperature. Be 

 careful, as heat always drops when chicks are taken out. You 

 can have a small glass door in front of the egg-drawer, to ob- 

 serve the thermometer, if desired. Always change position of 

 trays when the eggs are turned, putting the front one at the 

 rear. After the i4th day spray the eggs twice a day with 

 water warmed to no degrees, using an atomizer, and do it 

 quickly. 



