Testing Eggs. 173 



the work of a dozen under the old system. Whether hens 

 or incubators are used, all eggs ought to be tested on the 

 seventh day, and, in order to obtain the full benefit of this, 

 two or more hens should be set at the same time, so that, if a 

 number are barren, one of the sitters can have her eggs 

 given to the others, and a fresh nest made for her instead. 

 Eggs may be tested in various ways. The original method 

 was to grasp the egg with the thumb and forefinger of the 

 left hand, using the other fingers, and the other hand, also, to 

 shade off the light from the eyes. Many hundreds we have 

 done in this way ; but now egg testers are sold at about a 

 quarter each, which are more certain, at any rate to those 

 who have not tried the testing before. If there is only one 

 window in the room, place the egg in the tester betweeD the 

 light and the eye, when the egg will appear cloudy or clear, 

 as it is fertile or unfertile. At seven days, a " live " egg will 

 have a black spot in the centre, gradually shading off to the 

 edges, where it is much clearer, whilst an unfertile egg 

 remains clear all the time. When working an incubator, we 

 can tell fertile eggs thirty -six hours after they are put into 

 the machine, but this requires considerable experience, and 

 it is not wise to disturb a hen so early as the time named. 

 In testing, perhaps the safest way, is to examine the eggs at 

 night, by a candle, a lamp, or a gas jet, but care must be 

 taken that they are kept at least six inches from the flame, or 

 the heat will kill the embryo. All eggs found unfertile can 

 be removed, and will be perfectly good for cooking purposes, 

 or may be used for feeding chickens. 



After this examination, nothing more need be done until 

 the nineteenth day, except to see every day when the hen 

 is off for feeding that the nest is all right, and, in drj 

 weather, or, if upon a boarded floor, about a pint or a quart 

 of hot water should be poured round the outside of the box, 

 BO as to keep the earth in the box damp, and thus provide 



