POULTRT-CRAFT. 169 



wild to do this with, should be fed late in the evening. As hens come off, 

 the condition of each nest should be noted. If any contain broken eggs they 

 should be cleaned at once, if still moist ; if dry, lit is as well to mark the 

 nest, and clean all such at the earliest convenient time. Hens will be more 

 content, keep in better condition, and hatch better and stronger chicks if 

 allowed to go out doors every time they leave the nest. They should be well 

 powdered with insect powder about the eleventh or twelfth day of incubation, 

 and again a week later. 



239. Testing the Eggs. The eggs incubated ought always to be tested 

 as early as fertility can be certainly determined that is, about the fourth or 

 fifth day for white shelled eggs, and two to four days later for eggs with dark 

 thick shells. The removal of the infertile eggs gives those left a better chance. 

 If there are many infertile eggs a part of the hens can be reset. If the plan is 

 to set hens once a week the test of the eggs last set may be made early the same 

 day, and hens reset with the new lot. Testing ought not to be neglected. It 

 is not to the breeder's interest unless he merely wants to rest his hens from 

 laying to allow hens to devote their time to eggs that will not hatch. 

 During the season he needs to get chicks out as rapidly as possible, and it is 

 poor policy to "go it blind," as they do who do not test the eggs. Even if 

 eggs are running high in fertility, it is better to test, for there may be some 

 dead germs, rotting. A rotten egg breaks easily, and when one does break in 

 a nest the chances of a good hatch are reduced besides, there is the nasty job 

 of cleaning the nest and eggs. 



Egg Testers are sold by incubator manufacturers and dealers in poultry 

 supplies. A home made tester can be made in a few minutes of a small box 

 of such size and dimensions that a common hand lamp or a lantern can be set 

 in it. If a lamp is to be used, one side of the box should be hinged, or slide in 

 grooves ; a hole should be cut in the top directly over the flame, another in 

 one side opposite the flame. Over this last hole a piece of felt or of an 

 old rubber boot leg, having in it a hole a little smaller than an egg will pass 

 through, should be tacked. If a lantern is used all that is necessary is to knock 

 one end out of the box, that the lantern may be put down in it, and fix the hole 

 opposite the flame as described above. 



The testing should be done in a dark room. If the pen in which the hens 

 are set cannot be made dark enough by covering up the windows, it is best to 

 test after dark. The quickest and easiest way is to place the tester on top of 

 the nest box, stoop down, take all the eggs from under a hen, putting them on 

 the floor in front of the nest. As the eggs are examined replace the fertile 

 ones under the hen, and throw the infertiles aside ; then go on to the next 

 hen. 



In testing, the light shining through the egg held against the hole in the side 

 of the chimney or box shows the condition of the egg. An infertile egg is 

 clear. An egg containing a live germ, after being incubated for a week, is 



