NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION 91 



17. Describe two methods of supplying moisture to eggs. 



18. When testing eggs on the 7th and 14th days, describe the 

 appearance of an infertile egg. A dead-germ egg. A fertile egg. 



19. What points should be kept in mind when the eggs begin to 

 hatch in an incubator? 



20. What should be done with the incubator when the season's 

 hatching is complete? 



SUGGESTIONS 



1. In order to become familiar with selecting eggs for hatching, 

 save all the eggs produced by your flock for several days and examine 

 them carefully. How many would you select for hatching? In what 

 respect are these superior to those not selected? 



2. Prove to your own satisfaction the many advantages of hatch- 

 ing early by carrying on the following simple experiment: Carry on 

 your regular hatching operations as early in the spring as your climate 

 and equipment will permit. About six weeks or two months later, 

 hatch a few more chickens from the same stock as your early hatched 

 chickens, giving them the same care, feed and attention. On or about 

 the middle of September, compare the early hatched stock with the 

 late hatched for size, development^ and health. Leg-band the pullets 

 from both lots and see which begin to lay first. In carrying on this 

 test, it should be remembered that, in order to make a fair comparison, 

 all conditions should be the same with both lots of chickens, excepting 

 the time they are hatched. 



3. Do you not think it would be to the advantage of the members 

 of your club or association and to other poultrymen and farmers in 

 your section to know of the advantages of early hatching? If so, why 

 not acquaint them with the facts in the case? 



4. A most instructive demonstration can be carried on in connec- 

 tion with a group of poultrymen, farmers, boys and girls interested 

 in poultry by studying and discussing the operation and construction of a 

 hot-air and hot-water incubator. If they cannot be obtained in any 

 other way, two incubators for this purpose may be borrowed from the 

 local poultry supply dealer. 



5. Another interesting demonstration can be arranged at the 

 same time by showing the method of candling eggs during mcubation. 

 An egg candler should be provided, such as is shown on page 88, Figure 

 86, together with eggs that have been incubated for 7 and 14 days. After 

 those present pass judgment as to whether an egg is fertile, infertile, or 

 is a dead-germ egg, break it out into a saucer to determine its true con- 

 dition. 



REFERENCES 



Embryology of the Chick, by F. R. Lillie. 



Natural and Artificial Incubation of Hens' Eggs, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin 585, by Harry M. Lamon. 



