220: * POULTRY BREEDING 
for them to drop into. In such cases it is permissible to 
open the door and quickly roll the chicks in front out into 
a basket lined with soft material, but do not do this 
unless there is danger of losing some chicks. 
Chicks often struggle and gasp when they first come 
from the shell. This is but natural and the struggling 
gives them strength. Do not try to help them into an 
easier position at this time. Leave the chicks in the 
incubator until they are thoroughly dry. If they are left 
there 24 hours no harm will come to them. 
The most successful incubator operators are those who 
worry the least about their machines. With good eggs 
and good oil in the lamp the average incubator may be 
trusted to go on without needing much outside assist- 
ance, once it is properly started. Do not forget that the 
directions given by the maker of the incubator are more 
reliable than those from any one else. General principles 
are well enough and every one should understand them, 
but minute details which are given by the maker should 
be constantly kept in mind. 
INCUBATION, NATURAL METHOD.—Notwith- 
standing the fact that incubators have been sold in this 
country by the hundred thousand very much the largest 
part of the poultry of the country is hatched by hens. 
This is nature’s method, and the ingenuity of man has 
not yet devised a machine that will produce as good 
results as can be produced by hens, Artificial methods 
depend for their popularity on other factors of success 
than the percentage of eggs hatched and the percentage 
of the resulting chicks raised to vigorous maturity. 
Where hens are used it is much better to arrange so as 
to set several at one time. This brings the chicks off at 
the same time and they grow up of the same age with 
