This is a new technique that involves a lab shooting a small laser beam inside of an egg about 3 days after incubation. The technicians then use the DNA contents of the egg to determine the future sex of the chick. These are chicks that are bred to exhibit a sex-specific color pattern at hatching. This means that you will be able to tell the sex of the chicks almost immediately with a high degree of accuracy. Red Stars, for example, are a sex link breed. Males are yellow golden, whereas females are reddish gold. Ask around with your local farm supplier or other poultry farmers to see which “chick sexer” they would recommend. These professionals usually have extensive experience in sexing chicks and travel from location to location doing exactly that. They will generally charge you a flat fee for accurately sexing a certain number of chicks. Some old wives’ tales suggest that males come from pointed eggs and females from rounded ones. The idea is that just looking at the egg’s shape can tell you the sex of the chick. However, this method has been discredited over time and has about the same accuracy as a guess. If you just guess the sex each time you select a chick, you would end up being right around half of the time. For that reason, if you want to consider a sexing method a success, then its accuracy odds must be higher than 50%. Keep track of the methods that you use, your guesses, and the final results to see what works best for you.
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One-sentence summary -- Use laser spectroscopy for commercial purposes. Get a “sex link” chick. Hire a professional. Don’t trust egg shape reading. Select a method with more than 50% accuracy.


Your bedroom should be comfortable and quiet so you can get a good night’s sleep. Make sure it is not too warm or bright, as a cooler, darker environment is usually best for sleeping. If you tend to get cold during the night or like having extra pillows on hand, make sure they are easy for you to reach as needed. By the side of your bed or on a chair next to your bed is usually a good spot, as you will not need to move too much to reach them. If you want to switch from sleeping on your back to sleeping on your side, make sure you roll to change positions, supporting yourself on one elbow. Try to keep your neck, shoulders, and back straight as you roll so you do not strain these areas. Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help you manage any pain or soreness due to your neck surgery. Follow the instructions on the label and never take more than directed. If your pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication. Follow their instructions on dosage and do not take more than recommended.
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One-sentence summary -- Create a cool, quiet sleep environment. Have extra pillows and blankets within arm’s reach. Log roll to change sleep positions, as needed. Take over-the-counter pain medication, if needed.


One of the most effective ways to prevent the flu is thorough and frequent hand-washing. This minimizes the spread of bacteria and the flu virus from surfaces that many people touch.  Use a mild soap and water and wash your hands in warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. If you have the flu, and out of common courtesy, cover both your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If possible, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.  Covering your nose and mouth minimizes the risk of spreading flu to those around you. Make sure you are sanitizing your hand with a thorough hand-washing after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose. The flu is very contagious and spreads most easily in places where crowds congregate. Staying away from crowded spaces can help minimize your risk of contracting the flu.  Make sure to wash your hands after touching anything in crowded spaces, such as handles in public transportation. If you have the flu, stay home for at least 24 hours to help minimize the risk of spreading the flu to others. Germs spread easily in places such as bathrooms or on kitchen surfaces. Cleaning and disinfecting these spaces frequently may help prevent spreading the flu virus.
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One-sentence summary -- Wash your hands frequently. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Stay away from crowded spaces. Disinfect shared surfaces and spaces often.


Getting more sleep may help to stop sleep paralysis, so try to increase the amount of time that you sleep each night. Adults should try to get between six to eight hours of sleep per night, but you may need more. For example, if you are currently getting around six hours of sleep per night and you are having sleep paralysis as a result, then try to go to bed about an hour earlier so that you are getting seven hours of sleep per night. Seven hours is the minimum amount of sleep adults should get every night — you should aim for seven to nine hours if possible. Going to bed at the same time each night and waking at the same time every morning can also improve your sleep quality and quantity. Make sure that you keep this bedtime and waking time even on the weekends. For example, if you normally go to bed at 11:00pm on weeknights, and wake up at about 6:30am, then maintain this schedule during the weekend as well. Having a regular bedtime routine can help to make it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you do not have a sleep routine, then create one that will be easy to stick to.  For example, your routine might consist of brushing your teeth, washing your face, putting on pajamas, reading for 20 minutes, and then climbing into bed for the night. Choose a routine that works for you. If you can’t fall asleep right away, don’t struggle. Just get out of bed and re-do part of your routine. For example, you could get out of bed, read for another 20 minutes, and then climb into bed again. A comfortable mattress, soft bedding and pillows, and a pleasant, uncluttered space can make falling and staying asleep much easier. Your bedroom should also be dark, cool, and quiet.  If your bedroom is messy or if your bed is uncomfortable, then work on turning it into a more pleasant space. For example, you might buy some new sheets, de-clutter your bedroom, or invest in a new mattress. If you live in a bright, noisy neighborhood, consider getting some light and noise blocking curtains to put up in your bedroom. Do not do anything else in your bed or it may disrupt your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, which makes sleep paralysis more likely. Do not watch TV, use your laptop or other devices, or even read in your bed. Eating within two hours of going to bed can disrupt your sleep, which may increase your risk of sleep paralysis. If you usually have a bedtime snack, then schedule it for about two hours before you go to bed each night. Strenuous exercise done late in the day can make it harder to get to sleep, so try to schedule your workouts for earlier in the day, such as in the morning or afternoon. If you need to exercise in the evening, stick to low-impact exercises, such as walking, light weight training, and stretching exercises. Caffeine can keep you awake if you drink it too late in the day. Try to limit or even avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and cola in the afternoon and evening. For example, if you normally have a cup of coffee at about 4:00pm, try drinking a cup of half decaf coffee or a cup of green tea instead. . Taking time to relax before bed may also help to prevent sleep paralysis and promote better sleep. There are many different relaxations techniques that you can use. Some good options include:  progressive muscle relaxation deep breathing a bath yoga or gentle stretching exercises calm music
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One-sentence summary --
Increase your sleep time. Go to bed at the same time every night. Create a bedtime routine and stick with it. Make sure that your bed and bedroom are comfortable. Use your bed for sleep and sexual activity only. Stop eating about two hours before bed. Exercise earlier in the day. Limit or avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening. Relax before you go to bed