POULTRY KEEPING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 14 August 1920, Page 8

POULTRY KEEPING

(By F. C. BROWN, Chief Poultry instructor, in Journal of Agriculture.) - August may generally be considered one of the best periods for hatching out chickens, and particularly those of the heavier breeds. It therefore ranks as one of the most important periods in the poultry-keeper's annual operalions. Unless he is able to hatch, and raise sufficient pullets to replace his old stock next year Iris profits will be seriously reduced. It is well to reiterate that, if only profitable stock are to be reared, the greatest care should be exercised in selecting eggs for hatching purposes. A mistake, often made in this connection, and particularly by many of the farming community, is to gather eggs for hatching indiscriminately from a large flock of hens. , To build up or maintain ! a. heavylaying flock it is imperative to have' a breeding-pen, so that only eggs from those b-rds possessing undoubted laying-qualities and constitutional vigour are used for r< 'productive purposes The work of hatching chickens by artificial means is usually a simple matter, provided the "incubator is of a reliable make and is handled in an intelligent manner. There are now so many different makes of incubators on the market and so many systems of applying the necessary temperature, ventilation, and moisture, that it is impossible to here give any hard-and-fast instructions that will apply to all machines alike. This being so, the only safe com’sc is for tRe novice to follow the in-, structions given by the maker of the particular machine lie is using. As a general rule, if .the air-cell dries down in accordance with, the diagram supplied with the usual book of directions it •may be taken for granted that the desired ventilation and moisture are being obtained. There are other rules which may be applied to all kinds of incubators the observance of which is essential to success. The most important is the maintenance of an even temperature—about 102 deg. F. for the first week, lOSdeg. for the second and third week, and 1 Old eg. when hatching. Remember that when the correct degree of heat is spoken of it means the temperature required by the genu <>f the egg, which is always floating uppermost irrespective of the

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position in which the egg is resting on tiie tray of the incubator. 1 lie necessity of having the bulb oi the thermometer resting on the top of a fertile egg will therefore be seen. The lamp should be idled every day. Do not turn the dame up high enough to smoke, or soot will collect in the Hue. Ti bn the, wick daily by rubbing with a piece of cloth, cave being taken to press the corners down, so that the flame will have a round appearance. Renew’ tbs wic.K after each hatch Keep the burner clean, and wipe from the lamp any overflow of kerosene. The eggs should be turned every twelve hours, commencing on the third day. .Move them gently, especially for the first week, to prevent injury to Ihe embryo. 1 1, is md. necessary that an em t Ivi’f-turn should be given; a }Vv fxlra rolls will do more good than harm. (.’ease turning the eggs just before they commence to rip. Cool the eggs after they have been in (he .n.ichin-' fur three days. As a general rule u a minutes once . 1 \ v for the hist week is sufficient. The time may be, increased by degrees up to twenty minutes in the second week, and a few minutes longer ■.hiring the third week. •In working' an incubator the greatest care should be taken to see that the connecting-rod between the thermostat and the arm carrying the disk is absolutely f might, otherwise the apparatus wid no: work with the necessary exactness . Once the screw part of a connecting-rod becomes bent v can never be depended upon, am; the only safe eo * me is to take ■' out and put a new once in its Race.

A DOCTOR’S OPINION HIGH PRAISE FOR WILSON’S i “MALTEXO” MALT EXTRACT | A well-known medical man, when repeating recently a large order for Wilson’s “Aiaitexo” Alalt Extract, wrote: “I am proscribing it for my patients in hospital, and am using it iu my oivn home, and must say am delighted with results.” W'hy, you ask, does the worthy doctor prescribe this preparation in preference to anything else, and use it in his own homo This is the reason: Wilson’s “Aiaitexo” Malt Extract is the pure concentrated essence of prime malted barley, and is Nature’s own tonic food. It tunes up the system, imparts .strength and energy, creates appetite, cures constipation, and enables you to digest and assimilate your food. Ecu' people run-down, tor those recovering from colds, inllnenzn, or other sickness, for backward children, there is nothing to equal it —and doctors know it. With or without Cod Liver Oil. AH chemists and stores. ’Pry a course. ! lon’ll endorse the doctor’s opinion. j