252 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



their sides, never on end, and never on top of one another. Fill 

 the trays comfortably full, but avoid crowding them. This is 

 most unwise and poor economy; it will make turning very dififi- 



cult, and breakage is likely to occur. 

 A good plan is to allow room for two 

 or three more eggs at each end of the 

 tray. 



For the first three days after the eggs 

 are placed in the machine, little atten- 

 tion is required save the daily filling 

 and trimming of the lamp. This, of 

 course, must be done punctiliously. It 

 is advisable to have a special time to 

 do this work, and never deviate from 

 it, any more than you would neglect 

 your breakfast. Morning is the best 

 time, because there is then all day in 

 which to note the behavior of the 

 lamp. 



In trimming the lamp, a term that 

 really means caring for it, it is not 

 necessary to actually trim the wick. 

 In fact, this should not be done after 

 the wick is first lighted, unless it be to 

 cut off a pointed thread or corner. 

 Simply rub the charred portion of the 

 wick, using a rag for this purpose, tak- 

 ing care to remove all dirt from the per- 

 forated screen through which the air 

 passes to feed the flame, or the lamp 

 will smoke.- Try to make a practice 

 of rubbing the wick in the one direc- 

 tion. In this way there will be no trouble in keeping the wick 

 perfectly level. 



Turning the Eggs. — On the evening of the third day, and twice 

 daily thereafter, the eggs should be turned. By turning it is not 



Fig. 1 60. — Type of oil- 

 burning incubator lamp 

 which is approved by the 

 fire underwriters. 



