INCUBATION 407 



spring. One should not breed from birds depleted by disease 

 or vermin. The breeding stock should not be expected to lay 

 heavily during the preceding winter, should have exercise, 

 must not be frightened, and the sanitary surroundings be 

 good. The germ becomes weak as the egg becomes older, 

 hence we should not expect as vigorous chicks from eggs three 

 or four weeks old as from those three to four days old. Eggs 

 of ill shape, under size, mottled, and thin shelled should not be 

 selected for sitting. 



Tests show that when breeding hens are fed scantily the 

 fertility of the eggs will be low, but those that are fertile hatch 

 as well as those from hens fed abundantly. It rather indicates 

 that after a hen has been laying heavily for a while her eggs 

 may be less fertile. There is apparently no difference in the 

 vigor of the chicks from the two lots of fowls. Chicks hatched 

 from eggs laid by fowls fed liberally average somewhat heavier 

 than those hatched from the other eggs. 



Eggs from White Leghorns do not reach their maximum 

 weight until the hens are in their third laying season. 



In incubation the eggs need plenty of oxygen, the proper 

 temperature maintained; too much cooling slows down the 

 vital processes and is injurious. After the third day it is 

 necessary to turn the eggs once a day to avoid cripples and 

 dead chicks; the eggs must lie on their sides or shghtly inchned 

 with large end upward and not on the ends. Many practise 

 cooling and airing the eggs once a day after the third day — ■ 

 at first only a few minutes, gradually increased to forty min- 

 utes, in a warm room. 



Baby chicks have a habit of huddUng and dozing in the 

 sun's rays and moving as the spot of sunshine does. Finally 

 when the sunshine disappears they are hkely to remain in this 

 position and become chilled. Do not allow this, as congestion 

 and bowel trouble may follow such a chill. Watch the chicks 

 closely and require them to return to the hover to doze and 

 rest. The baby chick needs plenty of food, drink, rest, and 

 sleep. 



Either overheating or chilling may cause diarrhea and cold 

 in the head, also congestion of the lungs and kidneys or 

 pneumonia. 



