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ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. 



Where it is intended to breed a large number of chickens an incu- 

 bator and foster-mother are indispensable. When the ordinary method 

 of incubation is adopted, vexatious delays often take place through 

 the scarcity of broody hens. Even where a large number of fowls are 

 kept there will be very few hens wanting to sit in cold weather, and 

 sittings of eggs that have been carefully saved are wasted because no 

 broody hens are to be had. By using machines eggs can be hatched at 

 any time. There are other advantages viz., the eggs are not crushed, 

 as so often occurs with hens ; the machine does not leave the eggs, neither 

 does it cover the young chickens with vermin, and it costs less for kero- 

 sene to hatch out, say, one hundred chicks than it would to feed the 

 number of hens that would be required to do the same work. Of course, 

 it is necessary to get an incubator of a reliable make. 



It is important to have the incubator standing upon a solid floor 

 the less vibration the better. The temperature in the incubator-room 

 should be as equal as possible; there should be no draught. The 

 incubator should be so placed as to allow air to pass freely all round 

 it. 



The incubator should be well tested, and the working thoroughly 

 mastered, before the eggs are put into the drawer. 



When the chicks are hatched they can be easily reared, in the coldest 

 weather, by the aid of artificial mothers. 



CARE OP LAMP. 



The lamp should be filled every day with oil of the best quality. 

 Always have sufficient flame turned on to keep the valve slightly open. 

 Do not turn the flame up high enough to smoke, or soot will collect in 

 the flue. Carefully cut the corners off the wick. Keep the burner free 

 from dirt, and wipe from the lamp any overflow of kerosene. 



EGGS. 



Eggs should be as fresh as possible; but a good hatch may be ob- 

 tained from eggs three weeks old, especially if the weather is cool and 

 the eggs are turned over every twenty-four hours. 



Eggs for setting should be collected regularly and placed in a room 

 where the temperature is never below 40 or higher than 65. 



Place the eggs in the drawer so that the large end has the highest 

 position. 



TEMPERATURE. 



The proper temperature for either hen or duck eggs is 103. There 

 need be no alarm if the temperature should run up to 107 for an hour 

 or two; but if left longer the germ will be destroyed. 



