54 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



and moisture are provided for, it is time enough to 

 experiment. 



Here are some general rules for running incuba- 

 tors which are given, with much other valuable in- 

 formation on the subject, in Bulletin 585 of the 

 Department of Agriculture, issued May 1, 1914 : 



Government Suggestions 



See that the incubator is running steadily at the 

 desired temperature before filling with eggs. Do 

 not add fresh eggs to a tray containing eggs which 

 are undergoing incubation. 



Turn the eggs twice daily after the second and 

 until the nineteenth day. Cool the eggs once daily, 

 according to the weather, from the seventh to the 

 nineteenth day. 



Turn the eggs before caring for the lamps. 



Attend to the machine carefully at regular hours. 



Keep the lamp and wick clean. 



Test the eggs on the seventh and fourteenth days. 



Do not open the machine after the eighteenth day 

 until the chickens are hatched. 



In setting up the machine, get it perfectly level. 

 Do not plane off the door if it sticks, until the ma- 

 chine has been heated up and thoroughly dried. Run 

 the machine at about 102 degrees F. for a day be- 

 fore putting in the eggs. Afterwards do not touch 

 the regulator for several hours, as it takes this time 

 for the machine to come back to its regular tempera- 

 ture. 



The temperature should remain nearly even. 

 When the bulb of the thermometer rests directly on 

 the eggs the temperature is usually held at 101 !/2 

 degrees to 102 degrees F. the first week, 102 degrees 

 to 103 degrees F. the second week, and 103 degrees 

 the last week ; while a hanging thermometer is oper- 



