84 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Care of the lamp. Use a good grade of oil. Clean and 

 fill the lamp once daily, trimming the wick by scraping the 

 charred portion off with a knife or by cutting the wick with 

 scissors. The burner should be kept absolutely free from 

 dirt and thoroughly cleaned after each hatch. A new 

 wick is usually a good investment for each hatch, thereby 

 eliminating any danger that the wick may give out during 

 the hatch. 



Turn the eggs before cleaning and refilling the lamp, so 

 that there will be no possibility of getting oil on the eggs. 

 The flame of the lamp is apt to increase in size after Kghting. 

 It is, therefore, advisable to return shortly after attending 

 to the lamp to see that the flame is at a proper height. 



Turning the eggs. The eggs are usually turned for 

 the flrst time at the end of the second day of incubation 

 and twice daily throughout the hatch up to the 18th or 

 19th day, or until the chicks commence to pip. After the 

 eggs are turned, reverse the egg trays, end to end, and change 

 the position of the trays from one side of the machine to 

 the other, in a two-tray incubator. While turning the 

 eggs keep the incubator doors closed unless the directions 

 state otherwise. Eggs should be turned by removing a few 

 from the center of the tray and working the others toward 

 that point, placing those that have been taken out of the 

 center to the sides of the tray. 



Cooling of eggs. The length of time to cool eggs de- 

 pends upon the temperature of the incubator room. As a 

 rule it is safe to leave the eggs out of the machine until 

 they feel sUghtly cool when placed against the face or eyelid. 



Cool the eggs once each day after the 7th and up to 

 the 18th day, inclusive. To cool properly, place the tray 

 of eggs on top of the machine or on a table in such a position 

 that they will not be in a draft. It is important that the 

 egg tray should not project over the edge of its support, 



