15 



and set in cold weather may take two days longer to hatch. How 

 ever, the following may be taken as the average times occupied 

 in hatching : — 



21 days. 



Ordinary fowls 

 Ducks 

 Turkeys 

 Geese 



28 days. 



26 to 29 days. 



30 days. 



How AND WHBK TO TeST EgGS. 



It has been previously stated that the poultry breeder should 

 always keep a record of the dates upon which various batches of 

 eggs are set. This is most essential, for on or after the seventh 

 day the eggs under the sitters should be tested, and the unfertile 

 eggs removed from the nests. These can be boiled and used 

 for chicken food. 



FIG. 7.— HOW TO TEST EGGS. 



When several hens or turkeys are set at one time the fertile 

 eggs can be moved to other nests, thus keeping a fair number of 

 eggs under each sitter, and allowing the breeder to put fresh 

 sittings of eggs under the hens from which the first batches of eggs 

 have been removed. 



The fertility of an egg can be tested in the manner as shown 

 in Figure No. 7. The hen should be removed from the nest at 

 night-time whilst testing the eggs, which should be held in front 

 of a light in the manner shown. If the egg is fertile the centre 



