42 Money in Broilers and Squabs. 



that it is level on all four sides. If it is a hot-water machine — that 

 is, one having a tank of water above the egg chamber — the tank 

 must be filled with hot hater at about 112 degrees. Fill and light 

 the lamp and place in position. Place the thermometer on the egg 

 tray and close the machine. When the thermometer registers 100 

 degrees adjust the regulator and let it run until morning. If in the 

 morning it is still running at 100 degrees it is ready for the eggs. 



"And now a word about the eggs : It is far better to have the 

 eggs as nearly uniform ae possible, and it is therefore best to have 

 them from one breed or cross. They will all hatch at nearly the 

 same time. They will be a more uniform lot of chicks. They will 

 all mature at the same time. The latter is quite an important item 

 if they are to be sold as broilers. 



"To go a little farther back, see to it that the producers of those 

 eggs are strong, healthy hens, that they are mated to vigorous males, 

 that they are not overfed, but are given a variety of food, and that 

 they take the proper amount of exercise. All these details must 

 be attended to if we would be successful. The eggs should be gath- 

 ered several times a day in cold weather, and placed on racks in 

 the cellar where they can be turned every other day. Use no eggs 

 having ridges around them or any that are ill-shaped, and use those 

 as nearly one size as possible. 



"It has been well said that hatching is only half the battle, if, 

 indeed, it is that. In our estimation the great causes of fatality 

 among brooder chicks are lack of exercise and overfeeding. Do 

 not crowd 150 chicks into a so-called 200 size brooder, or you will 

 be sure to lose them. Fifty will be plenty to put in one brooder. 

 When the chicks begin to hatch get your brooders in readiness by 

 heating to 95 degrees. You may gradually decrease the heat in 

 the brooders from 95 degrees the first week to 90 degrees the 

 second week, 85 to 80 degrees the third and fourth weeks, and 80 

 to 70 degrees the fifth and sixth weeks, and after that no heat will 

 be needed. Be sure your chicks are thoroughly dried before putting 

 in the brooder." 



A writer in Wallace's Farmer gives an interesting account of a 

 business of supplying incubator eggs. We reproduce it as follows : 



"From November to January there is a demand for incubator 

 eggs. The people who make a specialty of broiler raising cannot, 

 as a rule, produce all the eggs which they need for the purpose. The. 

 poultry man who has succeeded in making the fact known that he 

 understands how to care for his flock in order to make it produce 

 a reasonable per cent of fertile eggs can build up a permanent trade 

 in this line which will be exceedingly profitable. He must confine 

 himself to a breed however, which is approved by the broiler raisers. 

 The Plymouth Rocks and the Wyandottes are good broilers, the lat- 

 ter being the preference of the majority of those engaged in the busi- 

 ness. Eggs from mixed lots of hens are not in demand for this 

 purpose as the product will lack uniformity, and to a greater or less 

 extent will be deficient in the broiler-making qualities. .A.s broiler 

 raising is not carried on to any large extent except in the neighbor- 



