CHICKENS 241 



ter near cracks. Spray thoroughly, driving stream deep into 

 every crack within several feet of where the mites are found. 

 Repeat in a week to get the next hatch. If this does not finish 

 them, remove all the equipment and do the job still more thor- 

 oughly. A five per cent solution of the stock cresol recipe is 

 effective. Mites and good egg production are never found in 

 the same pen. 



INCUBATION 



A good incubator will prove to be the most economical method 

 of hatching eggs for most. The machine should preferably be 

 one of the standard hot-air machines, provided with a bimetallic 

 thermostat if future trouble w^ould be avoided. 



INCUBATOR POINTERS 



1. The best place for the incubator is a well-ventilated cellar. 



2. Thoroughly clean and disinfect machine before each hatch. 



3. Test thermometers. 



4. Run machine empty for two days. 



5. Do not disturb eggs for two days after placing. 



(), Turn eggs and cool twice daily before attending lamps. 



7. Cool eggs until they begin to feel cool when placed near eye. 



8. Keep lamp free of oil, and shape of flame round. 



9. Test eggs at end of first and second week. 



10. Save infertile first eggs to boil for chicks. 



11. Do not disturb eggs after eighteenth day. 



12. Sprinkle eggs daily with warm water from seventh day until 



first egg pips. 



13. Never help chicks out of shell. Start culling here. 



14. Leave chicks in machine forty-eight hours before putting in 



brooders. 



BROODING THE CHICKS 



The brooder stove and colony house (see illustration) make 

 the most practical equipment for brooding one hundred or more 

 chicks. 



The hover temperature should be about ninety-five degrees 

 the first week and should be gradually lowered aliout five degrees 

 each w^eek to about seventy-five degrees where it should remain 

 until the chicks are weaned. The action of the chicks makes the 

 best thermometer. Chicks well spread out near the edge of the 

 hover indicate a correct temperature. Sand and shavings make 



