CHICKS FROM DYING IN THE SHELL 11 



Ventilation and How to Prevent Chicks From 

 Dying in the Shell 



THERE are many kinds and makes of incubators. Some are made 

 of good material but do not give satisfaction because they are not 

 ventilated properly. Others are made of poor material and soon 

 warp, or the tank will rust out. Some do not give a uniform heat through- 

 out the egg chambers, which makes a lingering hatch. Now I will tell 

 you how an incubator should be ventilated for best results. There should 

 be four ventilators in the bottom, one at each end, about six inches from 

 the end and on a line with the center of the incubator, and one at each 

 side, (I mean the front and back,) about six inches from the front and back 

 and on a line with the center the other way of the incubator. These ven- 

 tilators should be about one-half inch holes and a strip of tin bent and 

 tacked over them so that the cold air will not come in contact with the 

 eggs. Then there should be two holes the same size as the others in each 

 end just below the tank and about six inches from the front and back of 

 the machine. There should be no ventilators in the front or back of your 

 machine, only in the ends, bottom and top. The ventilators in the ends 

 should be above the eggs so there will not be a direct draught over them. 

 There should be a two-inch hole in the top of the machine, about 

 the center. This ventilator I use when my chicks are hatching. I open 

 all nine ventilators after the eggs begin to pip. This gives the chicks 

 plenty of fresh air, and fresh air contains oxygen, which is the life of every 

 living creature. Not a living thing that breathes on the face of the earth 

 could live without oxygen. Then do you wonder that your chicks die in 

 the shell, shut up in a tight box with a temperature of 103 or 104, with 

 little or no fresh air. And your directions will tell you not to open the door 

 until your hatch is done! Dear reader, just reason a little and you will see 

 that this is all a grand mistake. Your chicks must have fresh air and if 

 your machine hasn't the proper ventilation just go to it every little while 

 and fan the door back and forth three or four times. This is necessary 

 only at hatching time. Chicks must have air, so do not fail to give it to 

 them. I never allow my chicks to pant in the incubator. I have taken the 

 tray out and set it upon the machine for a minute to give my chicks fresh 

 air, for if they get over-heated in the incubator it is just as fatal to them 

 as if they were overheated in the brooder. Too high a temperature and 

 not enough ventilation at hatching time will cause chicks to have bowel 

 trouble. 



The ventilators on the end of the machine should have a round piece 

 of tin tacked over them so they can be moved to give fresh air when it is 

 necessary. I open these end ventilators one-third on the third day of in- 



