Chicks, hatching and rearing

Introduction

Success in hatching and rearing the chicks is absolutely necessary for profitable poultry keeping. The fancier, the egg farmer and the market poulterer must produce every year a certain greater or less number of chickens. The fancier must have cockerels and pullets for exhibition and sale, the egg man must have pullets to lay, the poulterer must have tender broilers and roasters for his trade and all must replace the stock sold, or aged beyond its usefulness.

This young stock is required to be good or it will not satisfactorily and profitably serve its various purposes; the mere fact that it has been brought from the shell and made to live until it is time to market it, or to maturity, as the case may be, is no guaranty that it will sooner or later return a fair rate of interest on its cost. Thousands of chicks are hatched each year and placed in brooders, which, either because of weakness in the parent stock or improper incubation, are practically worthless, so far as their ability to make good growth and development is concerned. Other thousands which leave the shell strong and healthy are spoiled in the rearing, so that they reach the profit-turning age in such condition that they are unfit for the purposes of their owners.

The only chick that is profitable is the one well hatched and well reared, so that it possesses health and vigor. This indicates the necessity of proper incubation, healthful brooding, correct feeding and intelligent cafe. It seems to be the opinion of those who have the best right to know that not more than twenty-five per cent of the chicks that leave the shell each year receive proper treatment. Sometimes this is due to shiftlessness of their owners, but more often is the result of a lack of knowledge of how to do the work. Apparently the need of more and better knowledge of the business of rearing the chicks is imperative, and it is the purpose of this book to furnish the required information on all phases of this branch of the poultry industry, in convenient form, in language which is easily understood and from such sources that its correctness is unquestioned. It is well known that there is no one method in the work of hatching and rearing which will prove equally result - ful in all places and under all conditions. In order that this book may be sufficiently broad so that it may cover any case, we have included in it descriptions of the methods of not one but dozens of successful poultrymen, each of whom 'tells, practically, the story of his success. From these methods the reader may easily select that which seems best adapted to his environment and circumstances. By reading the book complete he ' will obtain a general knowledge of facts which apply to the industry as a whole which will make him far better prepared to handle successfully any difficulties which may confront him in his daily work.

WEBB PUBLISHING COMPANY.

CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT FERTILITY.

Success in Hatching and Rearing Depends Upon the Health

of the Breeding Fowls and the Manner in Which

They are Housed and Cared For.

By F. Q. Thayer.

Every season much disappointment is caused by a lowpercentage of fertility of eggs or the failure of such eggs to give satisfaction during the hatching season.

Fowls should be at their best their second season for breeding. If not forced they will lay large eggs which will hatch stronger and better chicks. A cock that is in his prime will get better chickens than it was possible for him to get as a cockerel. A method employed by many is to mate cock birds with pullets and cockerels with two-yearolds. All breeding males should be selected for their type, vigor and activity.

Health is the Foundation of Success.

The first thing to secure good fertility is good breeding stock that is standard and has health, vigor and good constitution.- This is the foundation of successful incubation. Unless the breeding birds are sound, healthy and in the best possible condition for reproduction of their kind, satisfactory results cannot be obtained. With good stock we may expect, under proper conditions, to get a high percentage of fertile eggs. Eggs from birds out of condition, either from inbreeding, sickness, improper food or unsanitary surroundings will not produce the best results. Never breed from a bird that is sick or ever has had a severe sickness. Keeping the male bird with the hens will not insure strong, fertile eggs if his welfare is not seen to. If the hens are fat or dumpy the eggs will be infertile.

The number of hens to a male varies according to the breed and conditions under which the fowls are kept. Do not allow more than one male in the pen at the same time as they will fight and in various ways increase infertility. Exchanging the male birds every four or five days is more likely to insure fertile eggs, but of course the males should be similar. When selecting a male bird we must not lose sight of the fact that he comprises one half of the flock. Therefore, select one that is vigorous, strong and well developed, and above all, is "boss. " One Vigorous, active, prepotent male will give greater fertility than three or four sluggish males. Breeding pens should be mated in the early part of January. By this means* they become acquainted and are friendly when eggs are wanted for hatching. After pens are mated a week or ten days it is a good plan to test the eggs; if they are trapnested you can tell which hens are laying fertile eggs and thus avoid setting infertile eggs.

Nature's Conditions are Best.

F6wls on free range will produce a greater percentage of strongly fertile eggs than those in confinement, other things being equal. Whenever possible the breeders should be allowed outdoor exercise, but never in wet weather. In good weather when the grass commences to get green they can get good green food, insects and bugs which are essential to the best results in hatching, and insure a good fertility record. To insure the best results we must get as near the natural conditions of summer as possible; this means a variety of food, sunshine, warmth, fresh air, green material, cleanliness and freedom from dampness.

Exercise Essential to Fertility.

The breeders should be given as large a run as possib/e for exercise is essential to health and the breeding stock must be kept busy if fertile eggs and strong germs are desired. Fowls that are closely confined to limited quarters where they do not get exercise or have access to sunshine and fresh air, even though well fed, are almost certain to produce eggs low in vitality and weak in fertility. One of the best methods of making the hens exercise is to feed the grains in a litter of straw one foot deep and make them scratch for it. Thus exercising and feeding are combined for the best results. The house should be large enough to give them sufficient room to exercise. Fowls crowded in. close

CONDITIONS AFFECT FERTILITY 9

quarters, without enough exercise, will soon have impaired health and cannot, on any account, produce very many fertile eggs, and those that are fertile will generally hatch chickens that are low in vitality.

Feeding the Breeders.

Few stop to consider the importance of the influence of food on the breeding stock. Do not use too stimulating foods, as it will force the breeders, thus causing weaker germs. It would be wise to feed more on grains with meat and vegetables frequently until the fowls are wanted to perpetuate their kind. Then feed them on an egg making ration with the moist mash fed at noon, or with the dry mash before them at all times. The value of green material cannot be overestimated. It should be supplied in liberal quantities and include cabbage, turnips, carrots, beets, mangel-wurzels, potatoes, alfalfa or clover. Morning and night they work for food, composed of various grains scattered in the straw. Too much moist food will make watery eggs which will not hatch; or, if they do, the offspring will be weak in vitality. Grit, oyster shell- and charcoal should be where the fowls can get them at all times. Fresh water is essential, and should always be within their reach.

Proper Housing is Important.

The breeding birds should be comfortably housed. This means that they should be in a reasonably warm, airy house. It need not be heated for better results are obtained in cooler houses. The safest plan is to provide a comfortable building, so arranged that it can be thoroughly aired and sunned daily while the birds are exercising. Fresh air is one of the most important factors in obtaining, good fertile eggs that will hatch good strong chickens. Do not keep your houses tightly closed at night, but ventilate by means of cloth curtains. Keep the house clean and in good sanitary condition and keep the fowls free from lice and mites. Do not allow breeding fowls to run out on the snow and ice or to get wet in any way, as it will produce a shock to their systems which will reduce the fertility in the eggs. The curtain front poultry house is used at the Minnesota Northwestern Experiment Station with success. Dry, cool buildings are more to be desired than warm damp buildings-. Nothing will cause sickness any quicker than a close, damp, warm house.

Care of Eggs for Hatching.

Now comes the care of the eggs and here is where much trouble arises. Eggs for hatching cannot be handled too carefully. They should be gathered two or three times daily during hatching season so they will not get dirty, chilled or otherwise injured. Good, clean nests should be furnished, thus doing away with the washing of eggs.

They should be kept at a medium temperature, between fifty degrees and sixty degrees being considered best for good results. Reject all imperfect, small and large eggs, and keep for hatching only uniform, medium eggs. If kept at too low a temperature the chilling injures them; if, on the other hand, the temperature is too high, development of life begins. If kept in too dry a room eggs evaporate very rapidly, and on that account especially they should not be exposed to a direct draught of air. They should be turned daily in order to prevent the yokes adhering to the shell, in which case the delicate membrane near the germ may be ruptured when the eggs are turned. Eggs to be hatched should be as fresh as possible when set. The older the eggs become the lower the fertility and the less the number of vigorous chickens.

HOW TO BUILD AN INCUBATOR HOUSE,

The Requirements of a Successful Building in Which to

Operate Incubators — How a Satisfactory, Inexpensive

House Was Built on a Well=Known Poultry Farm

— The Lumber and Other Material Required

— Details of Construction.

By Fred E. Dodge.

Next to owning good incubators, the most essential thing on all successful poultry farms is having a proper place in which to operate them. Whether large breeder or small fancier, real success depends a great deal upon equipment; the best incubator made operated in a poor location has little chance to bring off good hatches of strong, healthy chicks.

Incubators are found running in almost as many places as there are people running them. Some are operated in the front parlor, the attic, a spare bed room, or in the kitchen, where the rapidly changing temperature raises havoc with the regulation, and the steam from cooking, in some instances, warps the cases or supplies too much moisture to the eggs. The parlor is a favorite place, but the temperature varies there also. A majority of the incubators will be found in cellars under dwellings.

Cellars Are Not Proper Places for Incubators.

, Most cellars are too damp, are poorly lighted, and are seldom, if ever, well ventilated. In nine cases out of ten, the cellar is a poor place to put an incubator whether you are hatching with it or storing it. The dampness is apt to warp the case and put the machine in such condition that it will need to be run a week before the eggs can be put in. A season" or two of running incubators in such places will show the necessity of having a special building or room in which to operate them, if good hatches are expected to be brought off when all other conditions are favorable. Some think it too expensive to build a house for one or two machines, not knowing that a good one can be built at a low cost. It is the object of this article to describe such a house, one that is not only cheap to construct, but which has the essential features.

I have designed this house in a simple manner and have tried to make the drawings so that anyone not skilled in the use of carpenter's tools may build it themselves. The tools required are a spade, pick, hammer, saw, square, and level; tools that are found in almost every place.

Essentials of a Good Incubator House.

Having qjecided to build an incubator house, it is not a problem of how to conveniently cover a hole in the ground, but one of how best to build this covering that it may fully perform its functions. To successfully accomplish this, one must have knowledge of the requirements of such a house. The following are a few of the essentials and if your house will not fulfill all of them as near as practicable, when finished, it is useless to go to the expense of constructing it; the house cellar will do as well and will cost you nothing as it is already built:

First. The temperature within should remain nearly stationary at all times, regardless of external changes.

Second/ It should have a system of ventilation that ventilates without causing a direct draft on the machines. Ventilation is the life of incubation; without the life giving ox}rgen it is impossible to develop the embryo chick.

Third. There should be plenty of sunlight in the house. This will keep it sweet and dean and free from moldy growths. Direct sunlight, if allowed to enter all day, will heat up the interior, but this may be overcome by tacking muslin curtains in front of the windows and having them arranged so that they may be slipped back' when desired.

Fourth. It should be built on a high spot so that it will be dry the year around.

Fifth. The temperature within should be about fifty to sixty-five degrees, then eggs for hatching may be stored in places not occupied by incubators. If this house is well

AN INCUBATOR HOUSE 13

covered with dirt the temperature within in the summer wilt be about sixty-five degrees.

Sixth. The volume of air in the whole room should be great enough so that the air will not become poluted with the lamp gas before the ventilators can remove the latter. It should be between seven and eight feet from floor to ceiling, which will give the desired volume.

Atmospheric air is not a simple substance, but a mechanical mixture. Oxygen and nitrogen, the . principal constituents, are present in very nearly the proportion of one part of oxygen to four parts of nitrogen by weight. Oxygen is one of the most important elements in the air; it is the active element in the chemical process of combustion and a somewhat similar process takes place in the lungs of human beings. The lamp on the incubator, while burning, consumes the oxygen in the air and throws off a gas called carbon dioxide or carbonic acid gas. Being 1.5 heavier than air it falls to the floor and there piles up like water filling a hole unless removed as fast as it is formed. This is the reason that the middle ventilator (see Fig. II) extends to within six inches of the floor and does not terminate near the roof like the first and third. If this gas is allowed to accumulate in the building it will get into the egg chamber of the incubator as nearly all incubators take in fresh air near the floor. If this gas is allowed to appear in quantity and allowed to remain long it will kill all the living germs in the eggs. I do not doubt that this is the cause of many failures with incubators. Having learned the main essentials of an incubator house, the mechanical construction comes next in order. This is a simple matter for the greatest problem is to know in what manner to build it. Making the Excavation.

After the frost is out of the ground in the spring, select some high and dry spot and dig a rectangular hole in the ground 9x11x4 feet, have the sides sloping so that the floor of the cellar will be 8 x 10 feet. This should be dug with the long way east and west. At the center of the west end dig out the place for the stairs. At the surface this should measure 3x6. If in clay soil the steps may be made by digging the clay in the form of steps. These steps to*

?fa

AN INCUBATOR HOUSE 15

should have a one foot tread and a fall of one foot, then there will be four of them. Loose boards three feet long and one foot wide can be placed on the clay, thus forming stairs at little cost.

In throwing out the dirt care must be taken to throw it well away from the hole so as not to interfere with the carpenter work. If the soil is damp when the cellar is dug, it is well to leave it open to the sunlight for a few days to thoroughly dry it out before putting on the roof.

The Lumber Required.

The next thing in order is to buy the lumber. As this is to be built as cheaply as possible do not buy a foot of lumber that does not enter into actual construction. Following is a bill of the lumber, etc., required.

4 pieces 2 x 12, 10 feet long.

4 pieces 2 x 12, 12 feet long.

1 piece 4 x 4, 8 feet long.

9 pieces 2x4, 12 feet long.

1 piece 2x6, 12 feet long. 15 pieces 1 x 12, 12 feet long.

3 pieces of 8-inch flooring (for door).

8 pieces 1 x 12, 10 feet long (for ventilators).

2 three-light windows with 8 x 10 glass.

2 lbs. 20-pehny spikes.

3 lbs. 10-penny nails.

1 pair of large strap hinges.

2 pair small butt hinges.

Constructing the Wood Work.

Saw the 4x4 into four pieces each two feet long. With these and the plank build a rectangular box 10 x 12, two feet high, as shown in Figure I. This must be made with square corners and when finished be leveled up by placing small pieces of board under the low places. Figure II is, in part, a longitudinal section of Figure I. The drawings, I and II hardly require explanation and the frame may be built with little trouble.

Now take the 2x6 and place it in the center and one and a half feet above the frame* just made. Support it temporarily, then measure and cut the 2x4 pieces for the rafters and spike them in place. Figure II gives a plan and elevation of this work, and will explain the work in a more simple manner than words.

Take the one foot boards ten feet long and build two square tubes ten feet long; saw one in two in the middle. These are the ventilators and are placed by sawing out a place 2 x 10 inches in one end and placing this over the 2x6; nail to it as shown in Figure II.

The roof boards can now be put on and covered with tar paper and then the whole building covered with two feet of earth. A frame for the door is made by sawing two pieces 2x4, six feet long and one piece 4 feet and nailing together and to the building as shown in Figure I.

Saw the eight-inch flooring the right length and nail to two-inch boards six inches wide; this will form a bulkhead door for the entrance. Be sure and have dimensions so it will fit the frame, as shown in Figure I.

Take the three-light windows and make a frame for them in the gable in each end of the roof as shown in Figure III. Hinge them at the bottom so they will swing in and deflect the air towards the ceiling. Board and cover both ends with earth as much as possible and the cellar is finished.

If there is any doubt as to the method of procedure, a careful study of the different drawings will -clear it up.

Incubator Chicks Enjoying the Morning Sun.

SUCCESS WITH INCUBATORS.

The Location of an Incubator and its Influence on the Hatch

— The Value of an Even Temperature and Pure

Air — Care of the Machine in Operation.

The question arises where shall incubators be operated and what are the requirements for their successful operation?

Do not buy a good incubator and operate it in an unfavorable place and then blame the manufacturer for your poor hatches.

Incubators are run in nearly e^ery conceivable location, many of which are unfavorable to the best results. Some of the places where they are operated are damp, poorly ventilated cellars, parlors, sitting rooms, attics, barns, poultry houses, and, best of all, specially constructed incubator houses or cellars, separate from the rest of the buildings.

The Advantage of an Incubator House.

The reason why better results are obtained in specially constructed houses is that everything is made as convenient as possible and conditions are at their best. Machines operated in other places are at a disadvantage in many ways. Above ground, in a dwelling house, the machines require more attention as the variations in temperature, moisture and atmosphere are greater and must be adjusted accordingly. The incubator house should be put up early in the season, so that it will become thoroughly dry, and should be located on high, dry land. The house should be so located that perfect drainage is to be had throughout the year. A separate house will pay for itself by the larger percentage of chickens hatched in it. A house entirely above ground is at a disadvantage when hatching is carried on in warm weather; the house partly underground is cooler and the temperature is more even.

Construction of Incubator House.

The incubator house should be built three to four feet into the ground. The walls should be built of brick, stone or of grout and rise two or three feet above the level of the ground. The floor should be made of cement on a good foundation. ' On top of the ground wall, should be placed your windows which should be double, those outside being hinged at the top, the inside ones hinged at the bottom, so avoiding direct draft on the machines when windows are open. They should also be fitted with cloth curtains so that the intense rays of the sun will not affect the temperature or moisture in the room. By placing muslin curtains in the openings in the ceiling and end of the building thorough ventilation can be obtained. At one side should be built a dark room where eggs can be tested in the daytime as well as at night, thus doing away with much unnecessary night work. Another partition should inclose another room where eggs can be kept for hatching under proper conditions.

Conditions Surrounding the Incubator.

A damp atmosphere without the machine is better than dry, heated air. When the air without is dry, the floor should be moistened with water. An even temperature is desired for best results. The temperature of the room should be about fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Thorough ventilation is essential for hatching vigorous chicks. Oxygen is necessarv for the embryo; lack of it causes poor hatches and weak chickens. As the lamps consume oxygen in burning and throw off carbon dioxide, plenty of fresh air must be admitted to the room. If the machine is run in a living room more moisture is needed, and in every case extra care should be taken to provide a supply of fresh, pure air. In low lying sections and near lakes or large rivers, where fog or much humidity prevails, no additional moisture is needed, while a- considerable amount of ventilation is required. In a rarified atmosphere, a very considerable amount of moisture is necessary to secure even a fair hatch,

SUCCESS WITH INCUBATORS 19

and not nearly as much ventilation is needed. Kerosene odors and exhausted air are very injurious to the hatch and must be removed by ventilation.

Operating the Hatcher.

In running the incubators use nothing but the best of kerosene as less smoke and soot will result. It is best to trim and fill the lamps in the morning, and do all necessary regulating of machines at the same time so that you will not have to stay and watch the machines at night to see that nothing goes wrong.

Incubators should never be jarred when in use. Very clear practical instructions come with each machine and should be carefully followed. Never allow the sun to shine on the incubators as it causes the temperature to rise. Use a spirit level on top of the incubator, to test it, from back to front and from side to side. Block up under the legs of the machine until you get it level. If the body of the incubator is not level the egg chamber will not heat evenly. Be sure it sits firmly.

Fill the egg tray with as many eggs as will go m easily, but do not pile them up or attempt to double up by placing eggs on top of a full tray. Keep the incubator lamp clean so it will give you a clear, steady, bright light. Put in a new wick when starting each hatch. Follow the instructions that come with each machine.

Advantages of Using Incubators.

With an incubator you can hatch chickens out of season and on a large scale. Your machine is always ready when you desire to start. It is cheaper to run incubators than it is to use hens for hatching large numbers of chicks.

It enables one to start his chickens absolutely free from lice. The incubator does not break eggs like the sitting hen. It saves time that would otherwise be employed in caring for many sitting hens.

HATCHING AND REARING THE CHICKS.

Incubating and Brooding by Natural and Artificial Methods

— The Necessity of Obtaining Strong, Fertile Eggs — Oper=

ating the Incubator — Taking Off the Hatch —

Brooding and Feeding the Chicks — Dry Feed

Versus Damp Mashes — Free Range

for Future Breeders.

By H. A. Nourse.

No poultryman has ever achieved success in the poultry business sufficient to make a profit, who has not been able to produce strong, healthy chicks, and to so care for and feed them that they will grow rapidly and develop properly. While there are no momentous secrets connected with this work, there are certain matters and conditions which must be right, or the results will not be satisfactory.

Strong, fertile eggs are of primary importance and such eggs are produced by none other than healthy, vigorous stock. Other eggs may hatch and the chicks may live and grow, but they will not return a satisfactory profit on the money and time invested. Upon the condition of the breeding stock, then, depends to a great extent the success of the season's work.

No one attempts now-a-days to hatch many early chicks without the use of incubators. The use of these machines has practically revolutionized the business of hatching and rearing, and where one plant was found ten years ago that hatched 500 chickens before April first, fifty are found today. Artificial hatching is no longer an experiment. It has been proved time and time again that better hatches can be produced at less expense by artificial than by natural methods, if a considerable number of eggs are incubated.

The Location for the Incubator.

Although an incubator will operate successfully under adverse conditions, there are certain circumstances which the best machines cannot overcome, and which uninformed operators occasionally throw around them. Some years ago, a cellar was considered by far the best place in which to operate a machine, the main idea being to secure a place having a fairly even temperature. Since, it has been discovered that, although uniformity of temperature is desirable, ventilation and some sunlight are fully as important.

■ TL

• ;,,:■' ■•'■1

Corner in a Substantial, Well Lighted Incubator House Which is Below Ground to the Sills of the Windows.

The oxygen of pure air is very essential to success in this work and good hatches of strong chicks cannot be obtained when the machine is surrounded by foul air. The most satisfactory incubator rooms are partially below ground but have two or more feet of each side, or at least the south side, above ground, with sufficient window space to admit plenty of light. Effective ventilation is more difficult to provide in such a building than the one which is wholly above ground, but if air is admitted near the ceiling through cloth diaphragms and drawn out from near the floor through vertical pipes which extend up through and above the roof, satisfactory results will be obtained.