INCUBATORS.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 7

INCUBATORS.

Many years have passed since the poultry-breeder was forced to rely entirely on the'-;'broody," who, though a natural mother and excellent in many ■respects, yet had little -faults-that kept her owner on the alert to correct them. Nowadays the incubator is within the reach of all, and with a little care makes them as good a mother as the hen. Ready for Business. Of course, the man with a few hens and who only intends to hatch a small number cf chicks has not much need of an incubator, but where the operation is carried out on a large scale an incubator £j a very useful aid indeed. The incubator is always ready, and once the novice has mastered the mechanical adjustments he can count on having a good average result. The incubator will not leave the eggs as some unnatural mothers do, nor is it likely to. smash them by walking on the shells. Cleanliness is smother' asset in its favour. In fact, for any breeder who goes in for hatching' on a large scale the incubator has come to be regarded as essential. Modern makes of the machine have improvement after improvement added to them calculated to make them as nearly infallible as is possible. Pay a Fair Price. There is one caution the breeder must bear in mind, and that is: Do not grudge paying a reasonable price for the incubator. Many cheaply priced machines have been placed on the market, but they ar,e anything but cheap in the end, and the only result from their use is that the breeder will condemn all incubators as useless, and go back to the old system. Of course, the intricacies of the incubator cannot be learnt in five minutes' time, but there is no reason in the world why the novice, with a judicious amount of care, should not be as successful as those who have had longer experience. A great deal depends upon where the machine is placed. The situation should be free from vibration and wood or iron sheds avoided. The best place is a room with brick walls, as the temperature is more likely to be equable. The egg, in the process of hatching, is a; very delicate subject., and breeders should remember to deal with it as such. The Three Essentials. An incubator will not perform the impossible, so it is no use placing stale or unfertile eggs in it. There are three things that must be watched —the maintenance of a correct and even temperature, a proper and well-balanced supply of moisture, and correct airing. Machines axe now made so that the temperature does not fluctuate during the whole process of incubation. One hundred and three degrees is about the correct heat, but it is best to rely on the maker's instructions. No hard

and fast rule can be laid down, for dif-

ferent machines require different treat-«v-ment. The eggs should be turned twice a day. If this is not. done the embryo which floats at the top of the egg would become stuck to the shell by the dry of the layer of albumen. The egg drawer should be allowed to remain open from ten to' twenty minutes each day. The machine should not be opened more than three times a day at the most.