METHODS OF HATCHING CHICKENS 285 



two years, one of the most troublesome as well as expensive 

 features of poultry-raising would be very much simplified. 

 The cost of incubation, or the hatching and raising of the 

 pullet, is a no small initial charge on the cost of every dozen 

 of eggs produced. This initial cost would be less significant 

 were it possible to eliminate a large part of the losses 

 usually incurred in the hatching and rearing of the chicks. 



In renewing the flock the utmost care must be taken in 

 hatching and rearing to preserve in the new flock the 

 vitality of the old. If the health and vitality of the stock 

 may be injured by improper methods of incubation and 

 brooding, and these methods are persisted in year after 

 year, disastrous results will soon be brought about by the 

 very frequency with which the flock is renewed. Decrease 

 in egg production, which we may seek to overcome by fre- 

 quently renewing the flock, will as certainly result from a 

 gradual lowering of vitality as from keeping the hens till 

 they have ' ' lost their teeth. " It is the opinion of the writer 

 that there are harder problems to solve, and greater diffi- 

 culty to be encountered by the poultryman, in incubation 

 and brooding, than in any other part of the poultry 

 business. 



Eggs for Hatching Must Be Produced by Hens of Good 

 Vitality. Successful rearing of chickens depends very 

 largely on following closely nature's way. If we study the 

 way of the hen that hatches every egg in the fence corner, 

 we shall find this fact : The hen that laid the eggs was not 

 confined in close yards ; she had the liberty of the fields. This 

 guaranteed good health and vigor. Eggs laid by such hens 

 will hatch better than those from hens cooped up under 

 artificial conditions. Health and vitality in the hen are trans- 

 mitted to the chick. Eggs that hatch well come from hens 

 that have good vitality. Chicks that live well come from 

 eggs laid by hens of good vitality. The method of hatch- 



