18 CHICKS 



on in warm weather; the house partly underground is cooler 

 and the temperature is more even. 



Construction of Incubator House. 



The incubator house should be built three to four feet 

 into the ground. The walls should be built of brick, stone 

 or of grout and rise two or three feet above the level of tbo 

 ground. The floor should be made of cement- on a good 

 foundation. On top of the ground wall should be placed, 

 your windows which should be double, those outside being 

 hinged at the top, the inside ones hinged at the bottom, so 

 avoiding direct draft on the machines when windows are 

 open. They should also be fitted with cloth curtains so 

 that the intense rays of the sun will not affect the tempera- 

 ture or moisture in the room. By placing muslin curtains 

 in the openings in the ceiling and end of the building t borough 

 ventilation can be obtained. At one side should be built 

 a dark room where eggs can be tested in the daj-time as 

 well as at night, thus doing away with much unnecessary 

 night work. Another partition should inclose another 

 room where eggs can be kept for hatching under proper 

 conditions. 



Conditions Surrounding the Incubator. 



A damp atmosphere without the machine is better than 

 dry, heated air. When the air without ia dry, the floor 

 should be moistened with water. An even temperature 

 is desired for best results. The temperature of the room, 

 should be about fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Thorough 

 ventilation is essential for hatching vigorous chicks. Oxy- 

 gen is neeessarv for the embryo; lack of it causes poor 

 hatches and weak chickens. As the lamps consume oxj'gen 

 in burning and throw off carbon dioxide, plenty of fresh air 

 must be admitted to the room. If the machine is run in a 

 living^ room more moisture is needed, and in every ease 

 extra care should be taken to provide a supply of fresh, 

 pure air. In low lying sections and near lakes or large 

 rivers, where fog or much humidity prevails, no additional 

 moisture is needed, while a considerable amount of ventilation 

 is required. In a rarified atmosphere, a very considerable 

 amount of moisture is necessary to secure even a fair hatch. 



