GENERAL INFORMATION 



seen. Those eggs showing a fair-sized air space 

 with the remainder of the egg perfectly dark, with- 

 out any streakiness or watery appearance, contain 

 live chicks. The eggs that contain dead germs will 

 not show the complete development the others do, 

 but will appear streaky and watery and some may 

 give off a foul odor. Any eggs which you are 

 doubtful about may be left in the machine with the 

 live germs, but all those you are positive are dead 

 should be thrown out at once. Good egg-testers 

 can be secured of any of the incubator companies 

 for twenty-five to fifty cents. 



Chicks may be " marked " by means of the 

 Poultry Punch, a small and inexpensive instru- 

 Marking ment by means of which one may 

 Chicks punch or cut a small hole in the 



web of the chick's foot. The fancier often has 

 occasion to use one of these markers so that he may 

 keep tab on the results from his different matings, 

 or distinguish chicks hatched from purchased eggs 

 from those of his own strain. The marking should 

 be done as soon as the chicks are removed from the 

 nest or the incubator, as at this time the wound 

 will not hurt nor bleed, as it may if the marking be 

 deferred until later. As chicks have two webs in 

 each of their two feet, it is possible to make quite 

 a number of different combinations if necessary. 



The most level-headed, practical poultrymen in- 

 sist upon eight or ten square feet of house room per 



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