METHODS OF HATCHING CHICKENS 303 



temperature of the incubator be maintained. It is not 

 necessary that the room have the same temperature night 

 and day. Within a reasonable range of temperature, say 

 10 degrees, the temperature inside the incubators as now 

 constructed may be fairly well maintained. 



Ventilation of the Room. Of equal importance is the 

 ventilation of the room of the incubator house. The de- 

 veloping chicks make a constant demand for oxygen, and 



OREGON STATION INCUBATOR HOUSE 



unless the ventilation of the room be ample the chicks 

 will not develop and hatch with high vitality. It is the 

 opinion of the writer that low vitality in the chicks is often 

 the result of an insufficient supply of oxygen during incu- 

 bation, more often than the result of variations in the 

 temperature of the incubator house or in the machine, 

 though that also is important. 



A cellar or underground room is often used for the in- 

 cubator. "While it may afford the best conditions for con- 

 trolling the temperature, it offers the poorest conditions 

 for maintaining proper air purity. Fresh air is as im- 

 portant as a uniform temperature, and success will not be 



