216 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Occasidiially, lidwcvrr, rliicks (l('\-cln|) witli (lie lirad 

 directed toward the small end. The cause of this, it is 

 a^^'Tii'd, is allowing- the egg to rest in tlie nest or inculiator 

 with the small end uppermost. Definite information on this 

 point is scarce. Eycleshymer,' after conducting experiments 

 which did not involve as large numbers as we could wish, 

 came to the conclusion that the " position of the egg is a 

 factor of little or no importance in natural incubation." 

 Ileefurther concluded "that when the supply of good fresh 

 air is inadequate the oblique position of the egg, thereby 

 bringing the embryo in closer contact ^\ith the air chamber, 

 is decidedly advantageous. Where there is an abundant 

 supply of fresh air, there is but little to be gained through 

 placing eggs obliquely." Where plenty of tray room is 

 allowed, most of the eggs will be found to assume a position 

 that is slightly obliciue. 



In making a study of the effect of crowding eggs into the 

 trays for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the 

 inculjator, Jackson- reached the conclusion that in the case 

 of white eggs, which could be tested for fertility after tliree 

 days of incubation, crowding so that the eggs stand on end 

 until the first test results in no serious disadvantage. 



Turning Eggs. — The hen turns the eggs she is incubating 

 in two ways. The first is by peculiar lateral movements of 

 the body with wdiich she settles on the nest after feeding, 

 and which she continues from time to time throughout the 

 day and ])robal)ly throughout the night. The purpose of 

 these lateral movements is presumably to seek a more 

 comfortable position. The practical results are to bring 

 the body in closer contact with the egg and so closer to the 

 developing germ, and also to turn the egg. The second way 

 is Ijy what is incorrectly called "billing," in which the lien 

 reaches under her body and rearranges the eggs with her 

 lieak. i'ayue's'' recent obscr\'a,tions of setting ht'iis in glass 

 nests ha\-e shown that the eggs wei'e turned at least e\'ery 



' Bioloeiral Bulletia, May, 1907. 

 = Pennsylvania Bulletin No. 120. 



' I':i|H'r rcriil lirfun. TInilrcnUi .\nnu:il <-'iiii\onl icm of Ainnirnn A^^ona^ 

 lien ol Inslinctoi^s anJ J n\ estiiiatiaf; on roulliy llusliam Irj", I'.IL'O. 



