METHODS OF HATCHING CHICKENS 287 



parent stock may sometimes account for poor hatches and 

 low vitality in the chicks that hatch, it is also true that 

 poor methods of incubation may produce the same results. 



Methods of Brooding are sometimes faulty and result 

 in a high death-rate among the chicks and in impaired 

 vitality in those that grow to maturity. 



Feeding and General Care of the chicks is an important 

 part of this subject. It is true that chicks of good vitality 

 will stand a good deal of abuse in the rearing; it is true 

 that expensive foods and much labor in feeding are not 

 necessary to get the best results; but at the same time, to 

 get the rapid growth required of the chicks, they must 

 have proper foods. 



With the above outline as a guide, let us now discuss 

 some of these points more in detail. Omitting further 

 reference to the first topic, let us consider different methods 

 of hatching. 



NATURAL VERSUS ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION 



There are two ways or methods of hatching chickens, 

 namely, natural and artificial ; in other words, hen-hatching 

 and incubator-hatching. On the general farms the larger 

 part of the hatching and brooding is done by hens, while 

 a majority of the special poultry farms use incubators and 

 brooders. 



There are advantages and disadvantages in each. The 

 poultry-raiser must choose the method that best suits his 

 individual conditions. Each method has its place, but 

 there is a difference of opinion as to how far artificial 

 methods should supersede the natural. On the general 

 farm where fifty or a hundred fowls are kept the natural 

 method is undoubtedly the most satisfactory, first because 

 of the limited number of chicks to be hatched to renew the 



