314 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



After the operator has once tested his machine and 

 learned how much moisture is needed it will not be neces- 

 sary to continue the use of a moisture test. 



Methods of Supplying Moisture. Moisture may be fur- 

 nished in the following ways : First by putting a tray of 

 sand under the egg tray and wetting as much of the sand 

 as is necessary. The amount of surface of the sand to 

 moisten will depend upon the make of the machine and 

 upon weather conditions. Second, a pan of water may be 

 put under the egg tray. The sand tray is more satisfactory 

 than the pan inasmuch as the amount can be regulated by 

 increasing or decreasing the area of wet surface. This can- 

 not be done with a pan of water. Third, the eggs may be 

 sprinkled with water at intervals. This method is not very 

 effective. The supply of moisture should be steady through- 

 out the hatch. Fourth, sprinkling the floor and walls of 

 the incubator room is a practice frequently followed. This 

 is not a very effective method of increasing the humidity 

 in the incubator. 



Temperature of Incubation. The proper hatching tem- 

 perature is about 103 degrees Fahrenheit at the top of the 

 egg. It has been found that this is the average temperature 

 under the sitting hen. During the latter part of the incu- 

 bation period the temperature is slightly higher than dur- 

 ing the first week, due to heat given off by the growing 

 embryo. Good results have been obtained by starting the 

 incubator at 102 1 /o and gradually raising the temperature 

 to 103 at the beginning of the second week; then main- 

 taining it at that temperature. When the chicks begin to 

 hatch the temperature usually rises to 104 ; that is all right ; 

 but it should not be permitted to go higher than 103 for 

 more than an hour or two at a time. 



It is very necessary that the temperature be kept steady. 

 A difference of a degree, either higher or lower, for a short 



