THE POULTRY YARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12289, 23 June 1903, Page 2

THE POULTRY YARD.

under this heading we pro pose to tie vote a column weekly to notes of iv tercst and value to poultry -keeper x '1 he column will be open to others besides our regular contributor, and ws shall be pleased to receive notes from those interested.

INCUBATION.

(Continued).

"With a clujtnsy sitter, or in the case of a bird being confined to her nest beyond the usual time to feed her, not infrequently well eggs be found broken. Unless prompt attention be given when this occurs, grave inconveniences are liable to ensue. The spilt contents of the broken eggs will, if not quickly removed, stop up the pores of the shell, and germination will either stop altogether or be so impaired &s to bring forth no good results. Another annoyance that one has to put up with where eggs get broken in the nest is, that those hens that have the mishap to break their eggs, often become inveterate egg eaters. The first breakage is an accident, but the hen having «3onsuined a portion of the contents, and being by no means averse to the flavour, in fact, fully appreciating it, determines to help herself to theni in the future. Whenever it is found that by some means or another, an egg has been broken, at once remove all the eggs clean out the hay or whatever soft material be used and reniove any soil that may also have any of the contents spilt on it, and replace with a little fresh earth. Give this a dusting with insect powder, and replace some fresh nesting material. Now place the hen on her nest again, and carefully wash the eggs in warm water, removing any remains of broken eggs. Dry them thoroughly, with a clean towel, and, as each one is done, replace them under the hen.

EEASONS POE TESTING EGGS.

I will presently describe how to tell the difference between fertile, unfertile and addled . eggs, but before doing so, it may be advisable Jo mention a few reasons why the testing of eggs should never be neglected. One reason is that unfertile eggs removed from the sitting hen or incubator within a week from *the fcine it ha,s started are perfectly good for culinary purposes, and even when boiled have a much better flavour than many, a "shop 'unj" or, if not wanted in this way, they may be boiled hard, and kept intact for the young chicks when hatched.

Again, unfertile eggs and addled eggs (especially the latter) are much more liable to get broken than the fertile ones, and thus by taking- a ljttle trouble you might save yourselves a far greater trouble by not having to frequently wash the eggs and removo the nest.

Another reason why addled eggs should be removed is that they give forth an offensive odour, and few things are more injurious to a sucessful hatch than an impure atmosphere

lastly, if unfertile and addled eggs are removed, the hen has a better chance to look after those that remain.

TESTING EGGS.

I have pointed out the necessity of testing eggs so that it only remains for me to give some idea as to how to go to work in order to sort out the Efood or the bad. For the uninitiated ft will be best to leave the eggs alone until they have been incubating a full week. With experience and given a I good strong light it is quite easy to toll what to leave and what to discard in half the time, or even less. , But the beginner is liable to err, especially by leaving in the nest or incubator addled eggs, but at the end of a week's incubation very few, if any, mistakes should occur. Obtain a lamp with as bright a flame as possible, take an ordinary egg tester which is supplied with every incubator or cut a hole in a piece of cardboard the shape of an egg, and a little smaller, and you are ready to commence work. Naturally, testing eggs must either be done at night time or in a darkened room in the day I time. Place the tester in front of the light, and place each egg in front of the aperture and turn it gently round, ana provided the light is at all a good one, the contents are easily discernible. A clear or- unfertile egg —that is one in which there is no seed of the male bird — will appear almost transparent, and these may safely be put aside, cither for culinary purposes or for the young chicks when they are born. It is as well for those who have never seen eggs tested, to have by them a perfectly fresh egg and to look at that through the tester a few times, as this will give them a fair idea of what appearance an unfertile egg should assume. f.n a fertile egg the germ will be visible together with a more or less shaded substance tapering off into blood red veins. If, however, the shell is thick and of a deep brown colour these signs are not always observable, and in such cases the egg should appear quito opaque. An addle egg as a rule has simply a darkish substance floating abdui when the egg is turned round, none of the small veins previously mentioned being visible. A bright red vein running round the egg without any germ Ho be seen denotes a broken yolk* JTone but the fertile, eggs should be left -ill the nest o£ incubator. With j a little practice it is ' perfectly easy to j te«t eggs by the aid of simply an ordinary candle, using the hand to shade the sides of the egg, whilst holding, it opposite the light. *• '

(To fee Continued.)

Brown, can you tell me 'how the Stard won the football match last week ? Jones Yes. Brown: How ? Jones: Why "because tihey all wore the A.8.0. faotball boots.*