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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (July 30, 1914)
11 A Weekly Page of Poultry Hints to You Here is a Department Full of Bright Ideas For Readers of the Home and Farm Magazine Section. HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION The following is the first of a series of articles by Harry M. Lamon, Senior Animal Husband man in Poultry Investigations, Animal Husbandry Division of Bureau of Animal Industry of tho United States Department of Agriculture, on the natural and artificial incubation of henB' egg". IN TAKING up the problems of in cubation, a brief study of an "egg will help us to understand the rea sons for some of the rules for handling eggs during incubation. The shell of an egg is porous, consisting of an outer and an inner layer, under which are two membranes, separated at the large end of the egg, which form an air cell. This air space, -which is about as largo as a 10-cent picco in a fresh egg, increases in size directly in proportion to the evaporation in tho egg. Under these membranes and surrounding tho yolk is the white, or albumen, which contains 78.4 per cent of water, 20 per cent of protein, and 1.6 per cent of mineral matter. Two coiled membranous lay ers of denso albumen, called chalazao, eonnect tho opposite sides of tho yolk with each end of tho shell and tend to lessen its movement and rogulato its position in the egg. Tho germ spot, or blastoderm, a Bcmiopaquo spot from one-eighth to ono-siitecnth of an inch In diameter, is located on tho upper surface ox tho yolk and always remains uppermost in tho egg. Caro of Eggs for Hatching. 0i r . mrong, iertiie eggs aro tho prime essential in gocd hatching; these are obtained only from stock properly mated and kept under the best possible conditions to scenro health and vigor. Eggs from over-fat breeding stock do - not usually produce a large percentage of strong chicks. If breeders are con fined, they should be fed a varied sup ply of grains, meat and green feed. The green feed assists in keeping fowls In good breeding condition. Frco range is usually an important factor in the production of hatchablo eggs, as it is . much easier to keep up tho vitality of stock handled in tins manner than in birds that are yarded. Prom 8 to 12 females of the American or general purpose class and 12 to 15 of tho Medi terranean class can be mated with one male, depending on his ago and vitality and where tho fowls aro yarded, but this proportion may bo increased where tho birds have free range. Abundant ventilation in the house is also a groat help in keeping tho stock in good breed ing condition. Eggs to Be Discarded. Abnormal, small, and poorly shaped eggs should bo discarded. Do not set eggs which have thin or very porous appearing shells. Eggs should bo set when fresh, if possible, and it is not advisable to use eggs for hatching which aro over two weeks old, although stalo eggs will frequontly hatch. So lecting uniformly largo eggs for hatch ing, which are of the same color, is one of the quickest ways to secure uniform ity in the offspring and increaso the size of the eggs. Dirty eggs should bo cleaned by rubbing lightly with a damp doth, but care should be taken not to rub off any more of tho natural bloom of the egg than is absolutely neces sary. Duek eggs usually require wash ing, which does not appear to injure their Latching qualities. Kggs for batching should be collected two or ti-reo times a day in, freezing weather to prevent chilling. Broody hens al lowed to sit on eggs in the laying nests all day may hurt the hatching qualities of tho eggs. Eggs in large numbers arc generally kc-pt in a cabinet or turning rack, for convenience in handling, in a room where tho temperature is between 60 degrees and 60 degrees P., if pos sible, although they will stand consid erable variation. It is not necessary to turn egs kept only for a few days, but it is advisable to turn eggs daily which aro over a week old. Various commer cial turning devices are sold by poultry supply companies, or the eggs may be kept in cabinet drawers and shuffled about with the hands by removing a few eggs from the trays. Commercial egg eases are sometimes used for hold ing eggs for hatching. Eggs from different varieties of the same class of poultry may be incu bated together, but it is not advisable to mix eggs from the Mediterranean or egg breeds, such as Leghorns and Minorcas, with Plymouth Rocks, or Orpingtons, as the eggs from the small er breeds often hatch a little earlier than those from the larger breeds. Neither the hen nor the incubator will hatch strong chickens from weak germs or from eggs which have not received proper care. Methods of Packing Hatching Eggs. Eggs for hatching are shiped ex tensively over long distances success fully, but in many cases the shipment appears to affect the hatch. Setting eggs for shipment are packed in several different ways. One of the best meth ods is to use a common market basket well lined on tho bottom and sides with excelsior. After wrapping tho eggs in a thin layer of paper and enough ex celsior to make a ball of about 3 inches in diameter, pack them tightly in the basket, then put on a covering of excel sior, and o- er all sew a piece of strong cotton cloth, or the cloth can bo pushed up under tho outside rim of the basket with a case knife. Tho latter method of fastening tho cloth is much quicker than tho former and just as effective. EgKS aro also shipped safely almost any distance by packing them in a stiff pasteboard carton or box made for this purpose, the space around the egg be ing filled with either chaff or bran. Buff Cochin Bantams UFF COCHIN BANTAMS have a famous pedigree. It dates back to the breeds originally owned by Chinese emperors. In fact, they were first cxportod from Peking when the Anglo-French expedition, in 1SG0, sack cd tho summer palaco at that city. Specimens were taken back to Eng land, where their similarity to tho large Cochins led breeders to try to breed them in duplicate of the larger bird, ex cept for size. The color was changed in the process and the number of toes was reduced from five to four. The result has boon a complete success. They are very small, males weigh ing twenty-six to thirty ounces and fe males twenty-four to twenty-six ounces. They aro grca pets, and are heavy lay eis of fair-sized eggs, considering the hen 's diminutiveness. Tho hens get broody, sit and rear their chicks and are such careful and successful mothers that there is a For Heavy Egg Production. In breeding for heavy egg production, market purposes or tho show room, it should ever be kept in mind that tho primary and most essential character istic of a good bird must always be a sound constitution and plenty of vital ity and vigor. Without theso qualities it is impossible to have first-class stock. Constitutional vigor and vitality may bo put as the second fundamental re qusite in tho successful practical breed ing of poultry. In all kinds of breeding operations, whether for utility purposes or for the fancier's show pen, or for tho purpose of experimentation in the field of, This package is then placed in a basket, the bottom and sides of which are lined with excelsior, and the spaces at either end of the box are packed with the same material. On top of this package is placed more excelsior and all is cov ered with cloth, as previously men tioned. Extra stiff cardboard cartons made to hold from one to several set tings are used in which to ship eggs. These cartons or egg boxes are fitted with a handle for carrying, similar to tlmt. on a market basket. Bushel baskets are commonly used to ship orders of from 10 to 12 sittings of eggs, the manner of packing and covering be ing the same as mentioned in the first method. It is customary to rest eggs for hatching for about 12 hours after they are received to allow the germ to regain its normal position before the eggs are placed in the incubator. Period of Incubation. The period of incubation varies some what with conditions) so that a hatch may run one or two days over in some cases, duo to an accident during incn- bation or to a low temperature through out that period, while, on the other hand, it may come off - earlier. If through any accident the eggs are chilled or overheated, it is advisable to continue the hatch, testing the eggs after a few days to determine the ex tent of the damage. Chickens have been hatched from eggs left out of the incubator all night, as well as from eggs which have been subjected to a temperature of over 110 degrees P. for short time. 1 steady demand for Cochin Bantam hens in large numbers to be used by breed ers of large fowls expressly for use in rearing chicks. The Buff Cochin Bantam chick ma tures rapidly, and fhcre are many, in stances on record of pullets hatched in March maturing and laying early and then becoming broody, sitting; hatching unu rearing a Drooa of. chicks in the samo year. Buff Cochin Bantams should be liter ally a ball of feathers, rounding in every section, the legs and feet being proiuseiy covered; and the soft feath ers of tho thighs, termed tho fluff, are so loose ana iuJl as to make them w ptar to be a continuous mass of feath ers right down to the ground. in color thy are rich, golden buff, the shade of a new gold pieee, and whenever exhibited, this eolor. eom- omen wiiii ineir wonaerim snape, is bound to claim the attertion of all, heredity, the first selection of birds for the breeding pen should be made on the basis of their general constitu tional vigor. No bird which shows signs of weakness in this fundamental regard should ever be used for breeding under any circumstances. If such a bird is used the breeder eventually will have to pay the penalty. The Care of Eggs. The perishable nature of an egf is too little understood. Dampness, heat about 60 degrees, strong odors, drafts, delay in marketing, are factors which very quickly destroy freshness and good quality of eggs. , SUTLER SEATTLE, WASH. Under new management enjira) ehange in all departments all room redecorated and refurnished. Partica Iar attention is now being paid to prompt, efficient and courteous service DAILY BATES $2.00 Up With Private Bath $1.00 Up Without Private Bath Hotel Butler Cafe THE FINEST Xk SEATTLE Service the Best Cuisine Unexcelled BOBEET 3. BOBIKSON Manager. When In Seattle TRY THE RYE IT'S NEW IT'S CLEAN IT CAN'T BURN LOCATION IS RIGHT Only 3 Blocks Prom Depots and Docks. THE KATES ARE RIGHT $1.00 Per Day and Dp. THE FRYE IS THE RIGHT HOTEL FOR YOU. "IT LOOKS UKE A HOTEL" That's What They AO Bay. Booms $1.00 per day tip Rooms with Private bath $2X0 up HOTEL ACKLY Corner Twelfth aal Stark BUeeU Portland, Osegta. BATES : f2.50 per week en. With mi. veto bath, $4.60 up. cusan oirrsrDK ttooira MODKliN MUCK BUUJHSQ. Rowland Hotel & Annex 100 BOOMS i 207J-209 Fourth Street. ' One block from Court House. Electric Lights, Steam Heat, Hot and UoUt Water. Bates 75c, $1.00 and $1.50 per day. ' Cheap Weekly Bates. Hotel Clifford East Morrison and Sixth Street. Modern in every detail. Beat of aerriea. Sates by week from $3 op, by day 50 centi and up. See the Clifford before going elac where. ED. r. BEEVES, Proprietor. RAINIER HOTEL POETLAND, OREGON. Strictly Modern. Rates. -50c, 75c, 1. Private Bath 41.50 Sixth and Iloyt: only two blocks frosi 1 Hi 3 : SSBGBSffl SEATTLE ( SEB0BEE53 "STcSl!0 i I;13" EST thfap-tbotKMod ' M! KKOMASrUS Union Depot.
