999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS S3 



QUESTION Is it really necessary to remove the unfertile eggs 

 from the incubator, or may they be allowed to remain during the 

 hatch ? 



ANSWER Unfertile eggs and those containing dead germs 

 should be tested out frequently. A fertile egg generates heat; an 

 unfertile egg does not generate heat and absorbs the heat from the 

 fertile eggs surrounding it. These latter do not, therefore, get as 

 much heat as do the fertile eggs surrounded by fertile eggs, and 

 while the thermometer may show the right temperature, some of the 

 eggs may be warmer than others. 



QUESTION Can the incubator be started with, say, half its 

 capacity of eggs and the others added later? 



ANSWER It can be done, but very poor results will be obtained. 



QUESTION What is the time during incubation when the germ 

 in the egg is more susceptible to injury and death by exposure to 

 cold or too much heat ? 



ANSWER From the eighth to the twelfth days, inclusive. 



QUESTION Does it injure the germ in the egg under setting 

 hens to dust the hen with insect powder? 

 ANSWER No. 



QUESTION Does it do any good to help hatching chicks out of 

 the shell? 



ANSWER Not in one case out of a hundred. Chicks that must 

 be helped out of the shell are too weak in constitution to ever de- 

 velop properly. There are of course exceptional cases, but in the 

 end nothing is gained by the method. 



QUESTION How can a broody hen be prevented from sit- 

 ting? 



ANSWER Confine her in a small pen or coop with a vigorous 

 male bird for a day or two. Place her in a coop with a slatted 

 bottom and raised off the ground, feeding largely green food and 

 giving an ample supply of cool fresh water to drink. If the coop 

 can be arranged to swing back and forth a few minutes occasionally, 

 it would be better. 



QUESTION Is it better to allow a broody hen to sit than to 

 try to break her up ? 



ANSWER Yes. It is nature's plan to give the fowl a rest, and 

 she will have better health, will be better as a breeder and will lay 

 more eggs and begin to lay sooner. Harsh means, such as ducking 

 in water, etc., should never be used. 



