AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 
In a perfect hatch the chicks begin to pip the 
shells on the twentieth day, and all are out by the 
What to do at end of the twenty-first day. Hatches 
Hatching Time abnormally early or late are not de- 
sirable, as the chicks are not so strong and thrifty 
as those that hatch at just the proper time. The 
more nearly simultaneously a hatch comes off, and 
the quicker the hatch cleans up, the better. The 
best hatches I ever had were those that reminded 
me the most strongly of popping corn. 
As a rule it does not pay to help chicks out of 
their shells. A chick that has not sufficient strength 
and vitality to free itself from the shell without 
aid does not deserve aid, for it will scarcely survive 
many days, or if it does, it will not amount to much, 
but probably will always be a runt. ‘Then, aside 
from this, it is always more or less harmful for the 
attendant to interfere at hatching time. If the hen 
is disturbed she is likely to move around and tram- 
ple on strong chicks that would otherwise have 
fared all right. With an incubator, a frequent 
opening of the doors at hatching time is bad prac- 
tice, because this allows the cold outside air to blow 
in over the weak, wet chicks, chilling them and dry- 
ing out the air and absorbing a large part of the 
moisture that is very essential in the hatching 
chamber at this time. 
However, I find that it usually is a good plan to 
open the incubator doors when the hatch is about 
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