At three o’clock another collection of eggs is made, and at five o’clock eggs are again collected, and at this last collection all the corners of the litter under the dropping boards are carefully searched for eggs laid by the wayward Biddy, who prefers her own scooped out corner to a good nest.
The Houses are closed for the night, according to the condition of the weather, and at this time still another collection of eggs is made. At seven-thirty the Houses are again visited, and all birds not roosting as they should be are removed from the nest boxes or windows and placed upon the perches.
Mash Fed in Afternoon
During the Summer months, when the birds are on Range, they are fed their mash and grain ration between the hours of two and three in the afternoon.
Throughout the year nothing whatever is allowed to interfere with the Schedule, and, if one would succeed with poultry a rigid adherence to regularity is most necessary.
CHAPTER XVIII
Incubation on the Corning Egg Farm
We find, in studying Artificial Incubation, it has been in vogue, one might almost say, for centuries. The Chinese practiced artificial incubation by the use of hot sand and ovens, for it must be remembered that the Pekin Duck, which comes from China, is a non-setter. Therefore, ages ago, the Chinese were driven to the necessity of artificial incubation in order to maintain their large flocks of ducks. In studying the art one cannot help wondering that the progress in its development has been so slow, and the advance, year by year, has been almost nothing.
Hen Reigns Supreme
The Owners of The Corning Egg Farm were somewhat taken aback one day by the statement of a young man that he must evolve a theory of incubation for himself, and carefully carry it out. In incubation one does not want theory, but the knowledge which comes from long practice and the most scientific study of the art. After all these years, the hen, as a hatcher, reigns supreme. There is nothing which approximates her ability to turn out strong, vigorous chicks, and yet it is unfortunately necessary to abandon the hen when large numbers of chicks are to be produced. So Man has struggled in his vain efforts to reach something which will, at least in a measure, become a competitor of the hen.