24 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
degrees, this would be nearly 5 degrees lower than the actual temperature. In this case the heat on top of 
THE EGGS AND TOUCHING THEM should Only appear as 99 degrees, which is, in reality, 104 degrees, or 
nearly so — the correct heat desired. 
The position and location of the Incubator are very important, the best place being a roomy outhouse, 
free as possible from draughts, and if placed on a stone or earth floor will be preferable to wood, as, having 
more solidity, less vibration is likely to occur. The regulator plays an important part, and should, in the 
first place, be adjusted to work between 103 and 104 degrees. The room will, no doubt, vary in tempera- 
ture — often as much as 40 degrees during the day ; but if it can be arranged to keep the temperature at a 
fair average—say from 55 to 65 degrees — the regulator will work much better. As heat is the first essential to 
success in hatching, whether natural or artificial, and the correct heat is shown to be between 103 and 104 
degrees Fahrenheit, the heat on the top of the eggs must be kept at that uniform temperature as nearly as 
possible. It will be found that the eggs require a greater supi'LV of artifici.\l heat during the earlier 
stages of incubation, as the natural heat generated in the shell increases as the chickens develop, .so the 
ARTiFici.vL heat must be reduced to an equivalent extent. This is where the Thermostatic regulator causes 
an unvarying temperature to be maintained in the egg-chamber, as the surplus heat (that is over 104 
degrees) is allowed to escape automatically. The heat may be supplied in two ways — first, by radiation from 
the hot water tank placed above the eggs, or by hot pipes ; secondly, by hot air from the lamp going 
right through the egg-chamber. The latter plan is now quite obsolete, as the gas generated by the lamp is 
objectionable and injurious. The heat should be properly and evenly distributed over the whole egg- 
chamber, not varying in different parts, which is a failing in many machines. The pure fresh air should be 
allowed to enter the egg-chamber without causing a draught or current. The best plan to provide the 
necessary moisture to the eggs is to have the water tray placed underneath the egg-chamber, and all the 
best machines now have moisture supplied from that position. 
After purchasing an Incubator, it is well to work it for a few days before the eggs are placed in the 
drawer. If it is found to work satisfactorily at the required temperature, the eggs may now be placed in the 
egg-chamber in straight rows, back to front, and laid end to end of the drawer. They should be turned 
twice a day — say at 9 o'clock in the morning, and again at 9 o'clock in the evening, or at times which are 
the most convenient, providing it is done once each twelve hours. This is done to prevent the germ from 
becoming attached to the shell, and the yolk from remaining on one side, which would be fatal to successful 
results. The simplest manner to turn the eggs is to take out one row in the front of the drawer, moving or 
rolling each row into the position occupied by the previous one, placing those first taken out in the vacant 
space thus made at the back of the drawer. After turning the eggs, they may be allowed to cool for five to 
ten minutes after the first week of incubation, placing them back as soon as turned for this period. During 
cold weather five minutes will be sufficient. This is done to allow the eggs to absorb a supply of fresh air, 
which is highly beneficial to the embryo chicken. 
If on TESTING the eggs some are found sterile, these can be replaced with fresh eggs ; but this should 
only be done when a small number are found infertile, and the fresh eggs should be prevented (by placing a 
piece of wood or cardboard between) from touching those already advanced in incubation. The water 
trough which supplies the necessary moisture should be replaced daily with water, and a good plan is to 
sprinkle the eggs with warm water a couple of days before they are due to hatch ; but on no account should 
they be kept out of the egg-chamber while wet, but returned immediately, and when the chickens are 
hatching, the Incubator should not be opened more than is absolutely necessary. 
The thermometer should always be examined when the eggs are being attended to, any deviation from 
the correct temperature noted accordingly, and remedied at once. The lamp which supplies the heat should 
always be kept properly trimmed, and not allowed to burn higher than is necessary to provide the required 
amount of heat, and to prevent smoke or taper. A good reliable regulator to the machine will simplify the 
working considerably. This is made of two round, pliable brass or copper discs, soldered together all round 
the edges. This is called a capsule, and contains a mixture composed of 3 parts of ether to i part of 
