316 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



to maintain the proper wet bulb temperature the results 

 were satisfactory. 



Chemical Composition of Chick Affected by Incuba- 

 tion Methods. It has been definitely shown by the Oregon 

 experiments that moisture and ventilation have a direct re- 

 lationship to the chemical composition of the chick hatched. 

 The amount of phosphorus, lime, and certain compounds 

 of protein, and even the amount of fat in the chick, is 

 shown to be markedly influenced by the amount of moisture 

 in the machine. Extreme dryness produced chicks that 

 weighed less in dry matter, and lower in protein compounds 

 and phosphoric acid, as well as lime, in tissue. This proves 

 definitely that the conditions or methods of incubation in- 

 fluence not only the number of chicks hatched, but the de- 

 velopment and vitality of the chick itself. 



Turning the Eggs. Daily turning of the eggs in the in- 

 cubator is necessary. This is following nature, for it has 

 been observed that the sitting hen turns the eggs frequently. 

 Unless turned, the yolk rises, being lighter than the white, 

 and the germ spot comes in contact with the shell, or shell 

 membrane, which is fatal. Turning should begin after the 

 eggs have been in the incubator two days. 



It is important that the eggs be handled gently. As to 

 method of turning, it is usually well to follow directions of 

 the incubator maker. The eggs should be turned twice a 

 day. Three turnings have given good results. 



Cooling the Eggs. A slight cooling of the eggs each 

 day after the second day is necessary. In cool weather, 

 or when the temperature of the incubator room is lower 

 than 60 degrees, little more cooling will be needed than in 

 the time the eggs are being turned on top of machine. In 

 warmer weather and toward the end of the hatch further 

 cooling is advisable. The amount of cooling given by the 

 sitting hen to the eggs was determined at the Oregon Station 



