ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION 



COOLING THE EGGS 



Under all ordinary conditions in a temperate climate, ex- 

 cept in extremely warm weather, the eggs will do better if no 

 cooling or airing is attempted. The eggs get all the airing 

 necessary, for best results, while being turned and should be 

 retwued at once to the incubator after turning. Afte the 

 eggs are replaced the door of the egg chamber should be closed 

 and the machine let alone until next turning time. The tem- 

 perature of the eggs and the egg chamber always falls whenever 

 the incubator door is opened or the eggs are removed for turning. 

 Do not attempt to adjust the regulating device to assist the 

 machine to return to normal temperature; if it is let alone it 

 will recover the proper temperature in a short time without 

 regulation. 



In very hot weather, where the temperature runs high in 

 the incubator cellar, the eggs may be cooled from five to fifteen 

 minutes once a day. When running at any season of the year, 

 should the temperature 

 of the egg chamber rise 

 above 103 degrees, from 

 any cause, it is a good | 

 plan to cool the eggs 

 from five to fifteen min- i 

 utes according to the 

 length of time they' have 

 been exposed to higher 

 temperature. Do not 

 practice cooling the eggs, 

 except as advised herein 

 if you wish to get the best 

 results. 1 



CARE OF THE LAMP 



Keep the incubator 

 lamp clean. Put in a new 

 wick when starting each 

 hatch. Be sure to trim 

 the wick and fill the lamp 

 after turning the eggs i 

 every morning. Never 

 attend to the lamp and 

 then hajadle the eggs with 

 oUy hands. Carelessness 

 of that kind has ruined 

 many hatches. Keep the 

 perforations in the disc 

 about the wick tube of 

 the lamp burner, clean 

 and open, and do not al- 

 low crusts to accumulate 

 on the wick tube. Use 

 only the best grade of kerosene oU. 



In filling the lamp be careful not to run the oil over — have 

 it fuU, but not too full. Always run a lamp flame of sufficient 

 height so that it can be turned higher or lower as needed. Never 

 turn the flame high enough to cause the lamp to smoke. 



TESTING THE EGGS 



An egg tester is furnished with every incubator and hen 

 eggs should be tested twice during each hatch. Experienced 

 operators will make their first test on the sixth day, but it is 

 easier for the beginner to test on the tenth day. Do not turn 

 the eggs on testing day, as handling them while testing will 

 stir them up all that is necessary. In cold weather test the 

 eggs in a warm room. When the egg tray is removed close 

 the door of the machine. The egg tester should be ready for 

 use in a dark room and it is more convenient to provide an extra 

 tray in which to place the fertile eggs and a basket for the in- 

 fertile ones and dead germs. By holding the eggs before the 



opening in the egg tester, which has been placed on a lighted 

 lamp, the operator will be able to examine the contents. The 

 infertile eggs will be perfectly clear or only show a slight shadow 

 of the yoUc. 



The dead germs are not so easy to recognize, and a little 

 practice is necessary to identify them. Many dead germs will 

 show a small irregular red line apparently adhering to the inside 

 of the shell, or a broken circle of red containing a dark brown 

 spot. The operator will soon become familiar with the various 

 types of dead and putrid eggs. 



On the sixth day the live egg is easily recognized as it 

 contains a spider like arrangement of blood vessels in the midst, 

 of which appears the embryo, a small irregular dark body which', 

 has pulsating motion and appears to be floating in the center 

 of the network of blood vessels which radiate from it. On the= 

 tenth day the larger portion of the fertile egg appears dark 

 with a fair sized air space at the large end. Mark any doubt- 



35— HEALTHY BROODER-RAISED LEGHORN CHICKS 



ful eggs and let them remain in the machine until the next test. 

 When the trayful has been tested and the infertile eggs and 

 dead germs removed, the live eggs should be returned to the 

 incubator. The infertile eggs may be cooked and fed to large 

 brooder chicks, growing stock or breeding birds. Do not feed 

 eggs to newly hatched chicks. 



The second test should be made on the seventeenth or 

 eighteenth day. All live germs will now appear to fill the 

 greater part of the egg, making it opaque when held before the 

 tester. The air cell will be considerably increased in size and 

 may show a slightly irregular outline. Dead germs will show 

 a streaky or mottled appearance. All dead germs and any eggs, 

 marked doubtful at the first test, which have failed to develop 

 should be removed at this time. 



HATCHING TIME 



When chicks begin to pip the eggs (break the shell) it is 

 time to stop turning. The trays should be pushed back as far 

 39 



