10
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
A Weekly Page of Poultry Hints to You
Here is a Department Foil of Bright Ideas For Readers of the Home and Farm Magazine Section.
The following is the second of a $
aeries of articles by Harry M, $
1 Anion, Senior Animal Husband- o
mam iit Poultry Investigations, 3
Animal Husbandry Division of
Korean of Animal Industry of 4
the United States Department of 8
Agrienlture, on the natural and $
artificial incubation of hens' $
eggs.
SY8TEM and care in the manage
ment of sitting hens -will produee
a large number of chickens at a
omparatively small expense. Even
with the beet of caro, some hens prove
to be fickle mothers and eause trouble
aaad loss in hatching by breaking their
eggs, leaving their nests, or trampling
a the ehiekeng when ffrst hatched.
Hast hens of the general-purpose breeds,
such as the Plymouth Bocks, Wyan
dottes, Khodo Island Beds, and Orping
tons, make very good mothers. The
heavier class1, or meat breeds, includ
ing tha Brahmas and Cochins, make
good sitters, but are inclined to be
ekunsy on the aoat. The Leghorns and
ther Mediterranean breeds are very
aervoaa, and usually do not make good
Bothers.
Where only a few hens are set, spe
cial quarters are not necessary, but
when many are used a separate room
ahmkl ba provided for the sitters.
FttrtaMa nests are frequently furnished
br the laying hens, so that broody
lens can ba moved in them to new
sjaarters. Of the various styles of nests
sad for sitting hens, the following has
given satisfaction: IS inches square, IS
indies high, with a board 6 inches higtt
i front to prevent nesting material
from faDing out. The nests may be
arranged in tiers, with a hinged front,
whieh makes a platform for each tier
when open. A large number of hens
a- ba set in this way in a moderate
sized room. When using a bank of
ests, such as that which has just been
described, it would be well to place 3
r 4 inches of damp earth in the bottom
of each nest. The nesting material is
ext pnt in, and may consist of hay,
chaff ,or straw. Pack this material
down firmly, and shape a circular nest
not of it, which should be slightly deep
er in the center than at the edges, as 8
acst so shaped will prevent the eggs
from rolling out from under the hen -and
becoming chilled.
How to Set a Hen.
As the time approaches for the hen
to become broody or sit, if tare is taken
to look into the nest, it will 1)8 seen
that there are a fow soft, downy feath
ers being left there by the hen; also
the hen stays longer on the nest when
laying at this time, and on being ap
proached will quite likely remain on
the nost, making a clucking noise,
raffling her feathers, and peeking at the
intruder. When it is noted that a hen
its on the nest from two to three
nights n succession, and that most of
the feathers are gono from her breast,
whieh should feel hot to the band, she
is ready to be transferred to a nest
whieh has been prepared for her before
hand. The normal temperature of a hen
ia from 106 to 167 degrees F., whieh
varies slightly during Incubation.- Dost
the hen thoroughly with insect powder,
and in applying the powder hold the
hen by the feet, the head down,' work
ing the powder well into tha feathers,
giving special attention to regions
around the vent and under the wingB.
The powder should also be sprinkled in
the nest. The nest should be in some
quiet, out-of-the-wa plaee, where the
Bitting hon will not be disturbed. Move
her from the regular laying nest at
night and handle her carefully in doing
Bo. Put a china egg or two in the nest
where alio is to sit, and place a board
over the opening so sho can not get off.
Toward tho evening of the second day
quietly go in where sho is sitting, leave
some feed and water, remov the board
from the front or top of the nest, and
let the hen come off when sho is ready,
Should she return to the net after feed
ing, remove the china egg or eggs and
pnt under those that are to be tncu
bated. If the nests r.re slightly dark
ened the bens are less likely to become
restless. At hatching time they should
fee confined and not be disturbed until
tha hatch is completed, nnless they be
come restless, when it may be best to
remove the chicks that are hatched
first. In cool weather it is best not to
put more than 19 eggs under a hen,
while later in the spring one can put
12 to 15, according to the size of the
hen. v
Care of the Sitting Hen.
If several hens are sitting in the
same room, see that they are kept on
the nests, only allowing them V come
off once a day to receive feed and wa
ter, the feed to eonsiat of corn, wheat,
or both. If there are any that do not
desire to come off themselves, they
should be taken off. Hens. usually re
turn to their nests before there is any
danger of the eggs chilling, but if they
do not go back in half an hour in ordi
nary weather, they should be put on the
nest. Where a large number of sitters
are kept in one room it is advisable to
let them off in groups of from 4 to 6
at a time. The eggs and nests should
be examined and cleaned, removing all
broken eggs and washing those that are
soiled; in the latter case the soiled nest
ing material should be removed and
clean straw added.
Nests containing broken eggs that the
hen is allowed to sit on soon become in
fested with mites and lice, whieh cause
the hens to become uneasy and leave
the nest, often causing the loss of valu
able sittings of eggs. In mite-infested
nests, the hen, if fastened in, will often
be found standing over rather than sit
ting on the eggs. Many eggs that are
laid in the late Winter and early spring
are infertile. For this reason it is ad
visable to set Bevernl hens at the same
time.
After the eggs have been under the
hens from 5 it) 7 days, the time depend
ing somewhat on the color and thick
ness of the Shells white-shelled eggs
being easier to test than those having
brown shellsr-they should be tested, the
infertile eggs- and, dead germs removed,
and the fertile eggs put back under the
hea. lit this way it is often possible to
put all the eggs that several hens origi
nally started to Bit on under fewer hens
and reset the others. For example, 30
Bearded Golden Polish
THIS variety i more than 100 years
old; It is supposed to have origi
nated in Italy and was bred to a
degree of perfection in tho Netherlands,
from where it spread over Western
Europe and to America. The name
Polish came from the first belief that
they originated in Poland.
On account of lacking certain eco
nomic qualities they have not become
widely popular. The White Crested
Blacks were the first aricty, but Dutch
breeders developed the beautiful Silver
and Golden I'olifh, some with crests
and eome with both crests and beards,
the type shown herewith being of the
crested and bearded variety. Their
plumage is generally golden tan in color,
each feather edged or laced with bril
liant black.
They are very gentle and thrivo well
in confinement in -favorable climates
where the soil is dry. The hens are ex
cellent layers of large, white-shelled
eggs, and produce a number of them; so
eggs are set under three hens at the
same time, 10 under each. At the end
oi seven days we find on testing the
eggs from all the hens that 10 are in
fertile, which leaves us SO eggs to reset,
which wo do by putting them under two
hens, and have the remaining hen sit
over again aftor Bhe has sat only seven
days. In this way considerable time can
be saved in oue 's hatching operations.
Types of Incubators.
There are many different types of in
cubatars on the market, all of which
are of one of tho following types: Hot
air, hot water, or mammoth machines.
Both "moisture" and "non-moisture"
incubators aro made in the different
slyles of hot-air and hot-water ma
chines. The small machines aro heated
either by burning kerosene oil or gas,
while the heat for most of the mam
moth machines is supplied by a coal
stove, although gas is also used to some
extent. Gas burners require much less
attention than oil heaters, but a supply
of gas is not available in many local
ities whero oil may be purchased.
Electricity is also used for heating, both
in small incubators and in mammoth
machines.
Hot-Air and Hot-Water Machines.
Hot air and hot-water incubators are
used successfully throughout the coun
try. The water in the tanks of the hot
water machines should be emptied after
the last hatch, which also prevents
freezing when stored in a cold climate.
The hot-water incubator will hold its
heat longer than the hot-air machine, in
case the lamp should go out; but the
possibility of such an aceidert is too
slight to be worth considering where
the inenbator receives proper attention.
Tho mammoth machines are used ex
tensively both in the day-old chick
business and in custom hatching. Their
capacity runs from 1,500 to 10,000 or
moro eggs; 'as the machines are built
in sections of about 2,000 eggs each,
the size varying in different makes.
When" air incubating capacity of less
than 3,000 to 4,000 eggs is desired, in
dividual incubators of SO to 400 egg
capacity are generally used.
that for a home flock that will ba a
delight to the eye as well as a pro
ducer for the table, the Golden Polish
will be found both pleasurable and
profitable.
The hens are non-sitters, so that their
eggs must be hatched by other hens or
by artificial means. The chicks are
rather delicate, but if kopt dry and in
telligently fed will thrivo and grow in
tho most satisfactory, mannor. They
should never be reared in largo, open
spaces, as their crests prevent them
from seeing the swooping hawk in time
to avoid captrre. .
In Bize those fowls compare with the
Leghorn and weigh about the same.
They aro very fine-boned and carry a
larger proportion of meat in compari
son to offal than most other breeds. The
legs are blue, or, in old specimens,
white; the skin is white, and each fowl
has a round protuberance on its skull,
from which tho feathers of the crest
grow,
Thermostat.
The part of the equipment of the in-
cubator which controls the regulation
of the heat is called the thermostat
Thermostats depend on the principle of
expansion and contraction caused by
changes in temperature. They are fas
tened in the egg ehamber and connect
ed by a free rod to a bar, on the end
of which hangs the damper. Some ther
mostats regulate the size of the flame
as well as the position of the damper.
Begulation of the temperature of . the
ineubator depends directly on the effi
ciency of this instrument, so that it il
necoasary to have one of a reliable
make. Bar thermostats are made of a
combination of metals, such as steel,
zinc and aluminum. Tho wafer or disk
thermostats, which contain some fluid
used for expanding and contracting the
disk, are also used, their efficiency de
pending entirely upon the material used
in their construction.
Tha Thermometer.
There aro two styles of incubator
thermometers, with various modifica
tions; one is placed on the egg tray,
while the other is hung directly above
the eggs. The thermometer should be
used according to the manufacturer's
rules, unless there is a very good reason
for making a change. Where the ther
mometer is placed on the tray, or is
laid on the eggs, some operators pre
fer to have tho bulb come in contact
with two eggs, so that it may record
the temperature of at least ono fertile
ogg. It is advisable to test tho ther-
mometors once a year with a clinical
thermometer, which may be secured
from a physician or at a drug store.
This can be done by' putting both ther
mometers in warm water, heated at
about 103 degrees F., which should be
kept stirred, taking care to keep tha
bulbs near each other and at the same
lovel in the water; if correct, tho in
cubator thermometer will register tha
same as tho clinical thermometer. Tha
position of the thermometer in the egg
chamber affects the proper temperature
at which to operate the machine, as a
difference of an inch in height In some
egg chambers will mean at least a de
gree of difference in temperature. Tha
thermometer is usually placed in tha
front of tho egg tray, so that it can ba
easily read.
PBOV-DE PLENTY OP SHADE.
SHADE is necessary to provide a
place- where the birds can get away
from the direct rays of the sun,
thus inducing a bettor growth and pre
venting sun-burning and slow feather
ing". Natural shade is by far the best,
wild forest growth or cultivated orch
ards making ideal shade. In the ab
sence of trees or while they are making
sufficient growth, the planting of corn,
sunflowers and castor beans, or soma
such quick-growing, leafy plant in de
sirable. There is probably no better
place to rear pullets than the cornfield.
Artificial shade may be constructed bj
stretching cheesecloth or burlap over
a frame, or by making an elevated plat
form covored by boards.
To give a cool fragrance ts the fresh
ly ironed clothes, sprinkle a little orrii
powder under the ironing sheet.
LICE-0 KILLER
Scientifically Solves the Lies Problem
fa applied bnl twice a year while powder is
applied twine a month. One application rids
poultry of body lice. Indorsed by prominent
poultry-ten. Easy to apply. Bold on its
merits. Money refunded if not aatiifactory.
Large Tuba 50c postpaid.
Tha Idca-0 Co., 286 y, Wash. St., Portland, Or.
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2nd avenue, Seattle. Phone Main 1180.
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