MANtJAL ON POULTRY. 55 



ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. 



This subject has attracted a great deal of attention for the last 

 ten years. The incubators and artificial mothers have been so far 

 improved that both are now an assured success under intelligent 

 manipulation. There are several patents, which have given very 

 general satisfaction. 



The heat is applied by an ordinary lamp, by means of which a 

 chamber in which the eggs are placed on drawers, is heated to 102 

 or 103 F., and so constructed with valves as to regulate the tempera- 

 ture within a- limit of two or three degrees above or below 102 F. 



Some use dry air chambers, while others transmit the heat 

 through water tanks. All of the more modern machines apply the 

 heat from above the eggs, and supply the necessary conditions of 

 moisture by an evaporating pan placed beneath the egg tray. They 

 have even succeeded in arranging an apparatus by means of which 

 the eggs are turned in imitation of the practice of the hen at such 

 intervals as experience has shown to be necessary. 



Turning them four times in cwenty-four hours, or every six hours, 

 has been found to give most satisfactory results. Those who have 

 tried them have found no difficulty in hatching a larger per cent, of 

 the eggs than by setting them in the natural way under hens. It 

 is not necessary, as has been generally supposed, to place the full 

 number of eggs in the machine at one time, but they may be added 

 each week as the eggs are laid. No attempt will be made at a de- 

 scription in detail of either the incubators or the artificial mothers, 

 the object of this notice being simply to invite attention to the 

 means of artificial propagation and rearing of poultry, in order that 

 those who desire to experiment with them may*pursue the inquiry 

 further. Information in regard to che different styles of machines, 

 their comparative merits, etc., can be easily obtained by correspond- 

 ence with the manufacturers. 



The machines hatch successfully the eggs of every species of 

 domestic fowl. 



No one should embark in artificial hatching without ample prepa- 

 ration for rearing the young poultry. Warm quarters must be pro- 

 vided for those hatched in cool weather, and provision made for 

 supplying them regularly with meat and vegetable food. In a 

 word, natural conditions must be imitated as nearly as possible. 



The principal advantage derived from the use of the incubators 

 and artificial mothers is in securing a better supply of early broilers 

 than can be obtained by the natural process. 



