GENERAL INFORMATION 



Eggs intended for incubation should be gathered 

 several times a day during freezing weather, as 

 Eggs for otherwise the germs will become 

 Hatching chilled and will not hatch. After the 

 eggs have been gathered they should be kept in a 

 room where the temperature ranges between forty- 

 five and sixty-five degrees. The sooner they are set 

 after being laid, the better; but strong germs may 

 be held for three weeks and give a satisfactory 

 hatch. However, the author finds that it pays 

 never to set eggs that are more than ten days or 

 two weeks of age; fewer chicks die in the shell 

 and there is more vitality among the chicks that 

 hatch. Turning the eggs while saving them for 

 hatching is unnecessary, unless they are held for 

 more than a week or ten days; in the latter event 

 it may be found beneficial to turn them half over 

 several times a week. Wash all dirty eggs before 

 setting. Discard all ill-shaped and all very large 

 or very small eggs ; also those having chalky shells, 

 as they are too porous and not properly finished. 



If you have to buy eggs for hatching, be sure 

 they are carefully selected and perfectly fresh and 

 fertile. Eggs secured at the grocery or picked up 

 promiscuously over the country seldom give satis- 

 factory results. Secure your eggs of a reputable 

 poultry breeder, or produce them yourself if possi- 

 ble, and then you will be sure of what you are 

 getting. f 



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