i64 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
March 4 
HOW TO RUN AN INCUBATOR. 
CONFLICTING ADVICE FROM EXPERTS. 
The Whole Story Told. 
Part II. 
Ventilation is even more important 
than an even temperature, and each man 
must work it out for his location, sur¬ 
roundings and style of machine. Too 
much is better than not enough. More 
machines are defective in the amount 
and method of ventilation than in any 
other part. The air should pass through 
the egg-chamber slowly, and without 
cool-air currents. Always bear in mind 
that the amount of air passing through 
a ventilator will depend on the differ¬ 
ence between the outside and inside 
temperature. Thus in an incubator- 
room with the temperature at 40 degrees, 
the ventilation would be fully three 
times as great as though the room were 
80 degrees, owing to the more rapid 
circulation of air caused by the wide dif¬ 
ference of temperature in the machine 
and outside. Other conditions being 
AN INCUBATOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF. 
Fig. 56. 
equal, if we run the ventilators one- 
third open in a room with a temperature 
of 40 degrees, they should be all the way 
open if the room should be 80 degrees. 
Always the warmer the room the more 
ventilation should be given. The ventila¬ 
tion must, also, be regulated according 
to the atmosphere. Dry climates require 
much less ventilation than where the 
air is laden with moisture. The amount 
can be determined only by careful ob¬ 
servation If the chicks come out weak, 
and appear sticky, not drying off nicely, 
there has not been enough ventilation. 
Moisture. —By far more chicks never 
see daylight, or pass to rest quickly after 
hatching, on account of too much moist¬ 
ure than not enough, and unless sure the 
make of incubator and surrounding con¬ 
ditions require it, one should not use any 
moisture, or at least, not until the last 
few days of the hatch. Too much moist¬ 
ure-will not only cause many chicks to 
die in the shell by causing an abnormal 
growth (the chick swelling so as so com¬ 
pletely to fill the shell that it is unable 
to turn and break its way out), but many 
of those that do hatch will not be much 
expense for feed, as they will not stay 
long. Some incubators will require 
moisture in the same room where others 
will do much better without any at all. 
There are a few machines that require 
the moisture pans to be filled at the be¬ 
ginning of the hatch and kept full, 
owing to their having both top and bot¬ 
tom ventilation, making a direct current 
of air passing through the egg-chamber 
constantly. 
The best way to determine the amount 
of moisture required is to examine the 
eggs occasionally with an egg-tester, 
and note how the air-space is growing ; 
unless it appear as though it will occupy 
more than one-third the shell by the end 
of the hatch, no moisture should be sup¬ 
plied. It is a good plan to set a hen at 
the same time one starts the incubator, 
and compare the eggs occasionally. 
Airing the Eggs. —The amount of air¬ 
ing required depends on the construction 
of the machine, temperature of the room, 
etc. I have always had better hatches 
of stronger chicks when eggs were aired 
once each day, than when not aired at 
all. The time should be slightly in¬ 
creased as the hatch advances; at.first, 
they will get enough while the eggs are 
being turned. Gradually increase the 
time until, just before the chicks begin 
to break the shells, they should be get¬ 
ting from 10 to 30 minutes as to the ma¬ 
chine, temperature of the room, etc. If 
the room is 40 to 50 degrees, 10 to 15 
minutes is long enough, while if 70 to 80 
degrees, 20 to 30 minutes is none too long. 
A tray of eggs taken from an incubator 
and exposed to a temperature of 60 de¬ 
grees, will lose about one degree in two 
minutes, while at 40 degrees, they will 
lose about one degree per minute. It is. 
best to close the machine while airing 
the eggs, to keep the temperature of the 
egg chamber up, except when the room 
is warm, when it may be left open. 
There is very little danger of airing 
too much during the last week, so long 
as the eggs do not cool below 85 degrees. 
I have noticed hens leaving their nests 
hours at a time during the cool weather 
of early Spring, and on a few occasions, 
being off their eggs all night or all day, 
and still they brought off good hatches. 
On one occasion, I left the doors of an 
incubator open all night, temperature of 
the room about 50 degrees, and had an 
excellent hatch ; one tray containing 49 
eggs, hatched 47 fine, strong chicks, 
which goes to show that it is not airing 
that causes dead chicks in the shells. 
Chief Cause of Death. —Too much 
moisture is one of the most common ; 
another much less likely cause, is not 
enough moisture, the eggs drying down 
too much ; this seldom occurs except in 
very dry climates, and in incubators with 
a great amount of ventilation. Too high 
a degree of heat, thus forcing the chick 
before the 20th day of incubation, will 
produce weak chicks and many dead in 
the shell, as will, also, too low a tem¬ 
perature, which will retard the hatch ; 
but if they get out by the 22nd day, it 
is much better than too high a tempera¬ 
ture. I have known of really good 
hatches coming out as late as the 23d and 
24th day, but any variation from the 
20 th and 21st is weakening to the chicks, 
and they are much more likely to go to 
rest at an early age, than when they 
come out at the normal time, that is, be 
all out by the end of the 21st day. They 
will not all come out at once, of course ; 
some eggs require more time than others, 
as with the different breeds. Dark- 
shelled eggs usually require more time 
than light-shelled, and a fresh egg will 
usually hatch from 24 to 36 hours earlier 
than one two or three weeks old. The 
chief cause, however, is a lack of vigor 
in the egg, due to sickly parents or poor 
feeding. J. e. stevenson. 
New Jersey. 
Secretary Wilson, of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, is planning a great exhibit of American 
poultry at the Paris Exposition. He should take 
along several American cooks, and give the 
Frenchmen a taste of genuine fried chicken 
The losses among cattle and sheep throughout 
the West have been enormous during the past 
few weeks, and much sympathy is expressed for 
suffering stockmen. Suffering steers, apparently, 
do not count. The problem of caring for range 
cattle, in those districts where blizzards and 
heavy snow are regular features of the Winter, 
appears to be a serious one. Looking at the 
matter purely from the commercial side, it would 
seem probable that there will be a distinct short¬ 
age of beef cattle next Fall, especially as the de¬ 
mand for feeders appeared to be in excess of the 
supply last year. 
Nature makes the cures 
after all. 
Now and then she gets 
into a tight place and needs 
helping out. 
Things get started in the 
wrong direction. 
Something is needed to 
check disease and start the 
system in the right direction 
toward health. 
Scott’s Emulsion of Cod- 
liver Oil with hypophos- 
phites can do just this. 
It strengthens the nerves, 
feeds famished tissues, and 
makes rich blood. 
50 c. and# 1.00 ; all druggists. 
SCOTT & liOWNE, Chemists, New York. 
Bone Cutters 
Green cut bone is essential 
to a balanced ration for all fowls, 
young or old. The Webster & 
Hannum bone cutter has al¬ 
ways been the favorite with 
poultrymen. 
The new cutter-head is practically 
indestructible, absolutely self-regu¬ 
lating and self-feeding ; cuts meat and 
gristle as well as bone. Never clogs. 
Only award at World's Fair, Chicago. 
Booklet all about hens and how to make them 
lay, free. Send your address. 
E. C. STEARNS & CO., Box 20 Syracuse, N. Y. 
Incubators on 30 Days’ Trial. 
Thousands of these In successful Oper 
atlon. Most profitable money-makers. 
Large valuable catalogue, 60 . 
Flower City Ine. Co., Roohester, N. Y. 
OLENTANGY INCUBATOR. 
This Machine will hatch every fertile 
egg, so thousands testify. It is the best 
Self-Regulating machine made. 
Brooders 185.00. Catalogue free. 
Address, GEO. S. SINGER, Cardington, 0. 
THK IJUPROVED 
VICTOR Incubator 
Hatches Chickens by Steam. Absolutely 
no I f- regu I atin g. The simplest, most 
reliable, and cheapest first-class Hatcher 
In the market. Circulars FREE. 
GEO. EKTEIi CO., QUINCY, ILh. 
HATCH CHICKEHS 
BY STEAfll-withthe 
simple, perfeot, ielf-reguiatinf 
EXCELSIOR Inc u ba t or 
Thousands in snooessfal operation. 
Lowest prloed lit-clasi hetcher made. 
GEO. H. STAHL, 
114 to 188 B. 6tk St., Qnlnay, IU. 
Suits Everybody. 
We guarantee the Star 
Incubator to be perfectly 
satisfactory to every pur¬ 
chaser or return your 
money without question. 
No other incubator com¬ 
pany gives such a guaran¬ 
tee. They want their in¬ 
cubators to stay sold—we don’t, unless the 
buyer is satisfied that they are the best on 
earth and satisfactory in every way. 
NO MOISTURE to be supplied. Catalogue free. 
STAR INCUBATOR & BROODER COMPANY, 
Bound Brook, New Jersey. 
POULTRY 
‘ We keep everything in the POULTRY LINE, ‘ 
■ Fencing, Feed, Incubators,Live 8 tock, Brooders 
• —anything—it’s onr business. Call or let ns 1 
> send you our illustrated catalogue—it’s free for • 
> the asking—It’s worth having. 
> Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply Co., . 
4 28 Vesey Street, New York City. ♦ 
GREIDER’S FINE CATALOGUE 
of prire winning poultrj lor 1800. The finest poultrj book out. A 
perfect guide to poultry raisers. Calendar for *99 on cover. Gives 
price of eggs and Btock from the very tvst strains. It shows the 
finest chickens and describes them all. Fifty different varieties. 
Everybody wants this poultry book. Send Six cents in stamps. 
15. H. GKEIDEK, FLORIN. PA. 
BRABAZON’S POULTRY-CATALOGUE 
rprCf It’s a beauty; over 50 colored plates. Illus- 
» CC 1 trates and * describes fine Turkeys, Geese, 
^ \Ducks and chickens; gives prices of fowls Sc eggs. Finest 
^/Buyer’s Guide published. Inclose 10c. for postage, etc. 
" J. R. Brabazon, Jr. & Co., Box 57, Delavan, Wig. 
Blanchard’s White Leghorns. 
The leading strain of heavy layers. Eggs for hatch¬ 
ing from finest breeders and greatest layers out of 
1.200 hens. 15, $1.50; HO, $2.25; 00. $4: 100, $0. Send for 
cir. H. J. BLANCHARD,Groton, Tompkins Co., N.Y. 
WHITE WYAHDOTTES 
bred. Hens prolific layers. None better. Low prices. 
Write foreggelr. Ralph Woodward, New Rochelle, N.Y 
200 
young Barred P. Rocks; also Eggs. Circular 
free If you mention this paper. 
flTWWM Tymlr Raw CA fit PloiroTrillo 
Lee’s Lice Hiller 
don’t have to be taken on 
faith as to results. A liquid,— 
you simply paint it where the 
fowls roost at night and next 
day you can see the dead lice ly-_ 
ing on the painted boards.lt gets ' 
them all, body lice, mites and * 
other bugs and insects, and; 
shows you where the profits go. 
Seeing is believing. Get rid 0 f- 
mites and lice on the old fowls and 
about the poultry house now and 
you will have no trouble raising "J 
chicks in spring and summer. "■ 
Cheaper than any other method,. 
(only 75c for a gallon can), no hand¬ 
ling of fowls, no labor. Our 68 
page catalogue telling all about 
“Insects” and diseases of poultry, free. 
Special sample offer to points where 
we have no agent. More agents wanted. 
QE0. H. LEE CO. Omaha Neb., or 68 Murray St. New York 
MORE EGGS 
are laid by hens when kept free from 
vermin. LAMBERT’S DEATH TO 
LICE Is the remedy. It costs but 10c. to 
try It. My 64-page Poultry Book free. 
D. J. LAMBKRT. Box 307. Apponaug, li.I 
THE CROWN IfttSfSs 
bones. For the poultryman. Best in the world. 
Lowest in price. Sena for circular and testi¬ 
monials. Wilson Bros., EASTON, PA. 
MANN’S 
BONE CUT T ERS 
■ ■ M ■ M prepares green bone so that hens 
can eat it. MANN 8 GRANITE CRYSTAL GRIT prepare* 
food so that the hens can digest It, A perfect food per¬ 
fectly digested means strength, vigor and double the eggs. 
Catalog free. F. W. MANN CO., Box 15, Milford, Mu**. 
INCUB ATOR QUALITY. 
When it comes to quality in an i*. 
cubator, which embraces construe, 
tlon, working ability, etc., there is 
nothing that will equal 
The Prairie State. 
Two hundred first premiums in all 
kinds of competions with all kinds 
of machines. Send for catalogue. 
PRAIRIE STATE INCUBATOR CO., HOMER CITY/'PA 
O UR INCUBATORS 
■ ■ * ■ BEST.. 
They have all the lutest Improvements 
and are sold at very low prices and 
GUARANTEED to please every 
customer. Send 6c. for our 148 page 
catalogue which contains full des¬ 
criptions of our extensive line 
and tells how to raise poultry 
successfully. Send for it at once. 
DES MOINES INC’B CO. 
Box fiO lies Moines, Iowa. 
A Million Testimonials 
are not so convincing as the 
30 DAYS TRIAL FREE 
we offer on every Incubator we make. 
Mrs. M. T. Duval, Old Church, Va., 
O/k Ql never before saw a 
/w A/incubator, yet w 
' V ’ the Bantam hatcl 
Oy 60 chicks from 60 eggs 
V You can do as well. 
_ Send 
4o. for No. 23 Catalogue. 
BUCKEYE INCUBATOR CO. Springfield 
Ohio. 
FREIGHT PAID 
( to any address. That’s the way 
we send out our 
CYPHERS INCUBATOR. 
It combines the good qualities of all machine* 
and has the faults of none. Our Catalogue 
and Guide to Poultry Culture tell* all about 
the laws of incubation, and how to raise, 
feed and market poultry— all about the money end of the buil- 
ness. Contains plans for construction and cost of modern poultry 
houBes and many other things worth knowing. Bent for 10 cti. 
THE CYPHERS INCUBATOR CO Box 101. w a viand N V 
WE TRUST THE PUBLIC 
and tend them our Incubator on 
trial. No man ihould buy an incubator 
and pay for it before giving it a trial. jYou 
'pay not a cent for our* until you have 
given It a thorough trial. It’s made BO 
that nobody can fall with It. A child 
can run it with 5 minutes attention daily. It 
beat all other* at World’s Fair,Na»h- 
vllle and Omaha Expositions. The best catalogue >*nd 
treatise on incubation published, sent for 5 ets. Plan*’ioi 
Brooders, Poultry Houses, etc., sent upon receipt of 25 cts. 
VonCulin Incubator Co. 60 Adam; St. Delaware City, Del. 
CCESS OR FAILURE 
upon the start. If you start right you have a better chance of success. 1 o start 
poultry business the buy Reliable Incubators and Brooders M 
work automatically and cannot fail of good results. Our POULTRY BOOK, 228-pages. £ 
ells all about them and a thousand other things you should know about poultry. We send 
10 cents. RELIABLE INCUBATOR k BROODER C0„ Box B 101. Quincy, HI. 
