LATE HATCHING 47 



nature intended they should have. Artificial 

 methods are only successful when coupled with 

 natural surroundings, conditions, and feeds. To 

 carry artificial methods to any extreme is bound 

 to result in poor results, followed by a condemna- 

 tion of the artificial hatching and rearing of chicks. 

 Most of those poultry raisers who have tried both 

 methods of incubation, and have found the old hen 

 preferable, have been extremists who have carried 

 the artificial methods to such a point where reason 

 ceases. The incubator and brooder can do wonder- 

 ful things, but they cannot supply every condition 

 nature intended, unless assisted. The sooner the 

 novice comes to this conclusion the sooner he will 

 find himself on the road to successful artificial 

 incubation and brooding. 



No matter if the eggs come from the most vigor- 

 ous stock and are possessed of the strongest germ, 

 if the chicks are not given the chance to get as 

 close to nature as possible, confined perhaps in a 

 broodhouse without an outdoor run, those chicks 

 cannot develop into strong pullets and cockerels. 

 It is surprising how many chicks are annually 

 brought up under such unfavorable conditions, and 

 some by poultry raisers who should know better. 

 Is it any wonder some poultry breeders are always 

 complaining of poor hatches, of weakly, sickly 

 chicks? The wonder is that nature does not rebel 

 altogether against such unreasonableness. 



