40 999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 



QUESTION Is it an indication of impurity of breeding, for 

 brown-egg breeds to lay eggs of a lighter color ? 



ANSWER Not always. Heavy and continuous laying often- 

 times results in light-colored eggs and it is very common for old 

 hens to produce eggs almost or quite white. 



QUESTION What causes red spots resembling blood clots, in 

 eggs? 



ANSWER Oftentimes a hen for various reasons will be forced 

 to lay under a strain sufficient to burst one or more of the minute 

 blood vessels in the egg organs or passages and the blood thus lib- 

 erated comes in contact with and adheres to the egg and the shell 

 is then formed over it. Eggs containing blood clots are generally 

 from over-fat hens. 



QUESTION How long may eggs be kept for hatching? 



ANSWER Set them as soon after being laid as possible. They 

 may be kept from four to six weeks, and even longer, but from 

 two to three weeks should be the limit. They should be turned daily. 



QUESTION At what temperature should eggs for hatching .be 

 kept? 



ANSWER Within certain limits a specific temperature is not so 

 important as a uniform one. Anywhere from 50 to 70 degrees is suit- 

 able. 



QUESTION Will thunder injuriously affect eggs in process of 

 incubation ? 



ANSWER No. This is a more or less popular fallacy, having 

 no foundation in fact. 



QUESTION How far may eggs be shipped without injuring 

 them for hatching? 



ANSWER With proper handling, the distance does not affect 

 the hatching quality of eggs aside from the time they may be on the 

 road. Under ordinary conditions they may be shipped three thousand 

 miles in safety. Rough handling may injure them as will also ex- 

 posure to zero weather, by express companies, or storing them close 

 to stoves or steam pipes in overheated express cars. 



QUESTION Is it necessary to allow shipped eggs to stand 

 twenty-four hours before setting them ? 



ANSWER No. This plan is sometimes advocated on the ground 

 that the eggs should remain quiet for that length of time in order for 

 the germ to assume its normal position. It will do this almost in- 

 stantly. 



