102 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



tained by flocks, Tvhere the poultryman does not wish to trap nest 

 his birds. Let us assume the breeding pens consist of units of 

 from twenty to a hundred fowls, and that they have been mated 

 with the view to some definite purpose. As the eggs are col- 

 lected from these pens let the collector mark the number of the 

 pen on the receptacle in which the eggs are gathered ; later, when 



the eggs are selected for 

 incubation this number 

 is marked on the egg shells 

 and they are placed in the 

 incubator or under hens. 

 A card is made out for 

 each hatching, and on it 

 is marked the date the 

 eggs are set. When the 

 eggs are tested for fertil- 

 ity a report is made on 

 the card of the number of 

 clear eggs removed, and 

 to what pen numbers 

 they belong. The same 

 idea is carried out at 

 hatching time — the un- 

 hatched eggs are counted 

 and credited to their re- 

 spective pens. 



Marking Chicks. — This 

 data will keep a pretty 

 good line on the fertility 

 of the different pens, and 

 the hatchability of their eggs. If the operator wishes to go further, 

 and follow the progress of the chicks in the brooder, he can mark 

 them when they are removed from the incubator, by leg bands, such 

 as are used for pigeons. See Fig. 65. In keeping track of the eggs 

 in the incubator they are given ordinary treatment up to the eigh- 

 teenth day, or when the eggs are turned for last time. Then, by 



Fig. 68.- 



{Couriesy Kansas Experiment Station) 



-Wing band in place on a mature 

 bird. 



