HATCHING CHICKENS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 7

HATCHING CHICKENS

•tftflO-YEAR-OLD METHODS OF INCUBATION. The methods used for applying heat in Chinese incubators in China are similar to those used by the Egyptians 1000 years ago in similar incubators, ruins of which still exist in the Nile Paver Valley. On .tho first day the eggs are thoroughly warmed to the proper incubating temperature of KB degrees Pahr., or a little less, fev/ placing them in a Brick, ovenliko room, usually six.feet deep, twelve feet lons, and ten feet high. The eggs are ulaced in baskets* arranged on shelves nrouno' the walls of this room, each basket holding 2011 or 300 eggs' In the larger shops as many as forty or fifty of these baskets may be found in this oven at the same time. Heat is furnished ,hv burning charcoal in earthenware pots nlaced r,n the 'lloor of the room. Sometimes baskets of eggs are placed in large stone iars and a slow charcoal lire is kept limning continuously against or underneath the outside of the jar. This method is largely used at Shanghai, Hankow, and other places in the north where the climate is cooler, and constant application of heal is necessary through most, of the hatching season. * After tin; eggs have been heated to the proper temperature, either in Hie oven or in the sun, they are placed in cylindrical baskets about SOin. deep and ioin. in diameter. Each basket holds about 1000 cues. The walls of the basket are about one and a fluartcr inches thick, and are made of firmly packed rice straw held in place with wicker or bamboo,'both inside and outside. The baskets are lined with a iieavv grey-paper, somewhat like asbestos. This paper ana the basket itself is thoroughly warmed before pulling in the eggs, which nre arranged in layer.-, each, layer being wparated from i'ls neighbour by a piece of cloth about two leet wniiire. Twice a day the eggs are changed from one ba.-ket lo another. The nncralor simply grasps Iho rumors of the cloth, and in doing so Hie eggs naturally tumble together in a heap in the centre.- He (hen transfers it with (he eggs lo aiiollier basket. This' method lakes the place nf the slow method of turning eggs nsc;i villi most modern incnbaloi's, and is most elKcienl. requiring only about oue-teiith (lie lime. Trans"tcning Hie eggs from one basket lo another bv this method also gives the airing considered necessary for (he production of strong, heallhy chickens.

The egirs are usually kept in the basket four dav-. and then transferred to large (rays, six I'eel wide, eighteen feet lons, and three inches deep. Each Irav holes about li),(l(KI eggs. The lioltom of the tray is lined with Hie same heavy paper willi which the baskels are lined. The eggs are also covered with this paper, with blankets or with both. The amount of covering depends, of .course, on Urn weather mid the period of incubation. In warm weather no covers a"o needed iliirinc the last two or three da vs. Just before' hatching time the number of cgjs in the trays is reduced to one layer, and an empl.v space of about, two feet is left at. one eiio', toward which' tho eggs are turned-or rolled twice a dav. The rugs-are candled twice,'usual on the third and seventh days, and all infertile eggs are sold, so that there is very Hide loss throu'rh uuhatched eggs. Throughout the incubation period careful walch is kept over the temperature. No thermometer is used, but the operator raises the lid or a. blanket, removes an egg, ami presses the large •■id against a closed eyelid where (he skin is very sensitive to temperature. ] eng practice has taught him to judge differences in temperohire quickly and accurately. The men sleep in the room with (he eggs, or .in adjoining- rooms. Someone is on dnrv constantly, examining and regulating each bn=kel; or'(ray according lo its individual needs.

The chickens when' hatched, aw- placed in circular bamboo trays about three feet in o.iamnler and eight inches deep. They are ready for sale as *omi as dry. The hatching percentage usually runs about 75 ncr cent, of the fowl eggs and about 00 per cent, of the duck eggs.—New York "Sun." ' ..'-■'