Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-05-31
| L { P0U LTRY YARD
A COLOSSAL POULTRY FARM.

1--WE OF the immense poultry establishment
OF MI. VIM. {. Baker. at Cresskil-on. the
hudson. which is full of interest TO Amer;-
can farmers and poutrymen this GRAND
s'eam-iatchlng place for chickens being. be-
yond comparison, the'largest successful arti-
flclal fowl raising establishment in the known
world. The following extracts from the
account of the Baker place will be read with
interest: l....
AT some rods distant from the family
residence and ornamtnted grounds stand the
great glass-coyered chicken-houses. the incu-
natlhe-house, the enormous laying-hos,ses
the latter range four hundred and sixtv
feet long,, the forcing-house, or patent feed
lng-rooms, the slaughtering-holse, store
rooms, etc, which constitute this immense
artificial fowl-raising establishments
After practically experimenting in various
ways for several years (during which period
Mr. Baker has expended in these expert
ments, and in the erection and appointment
of his numerous builasi,gs, some $75.0oo).
his establishment for hatcl.ing chickens.
ducks or turkeys, is to-day brought down to
very fine point, assuredly, and upon MIR.
Bakers plan the thing is entirely feasible.
The great broodina-Eouse is long, glazed
building, fashioned like a pitch-roof green4
house, with broadside aspect to the east
and south. A two and half story building
Mt the end Ito which this is attached) is a
commodious dwellng-house for the attend
ants, etc., and contains MIR. Bakers private
office, the ncubating-room a dining hall
and other apartments above, while the base
ment is devoted to store-rooms, boiler room,
electric battery apal tlhent, heating appar;-
tus, etc.
Passing through the battery chamber, we
enter the incubating apartment Here are
quietly produced. by artificial heat, thou
sands of chicks every week. This chamber
is about twenty feet square, protected by
double sets of windows, and three ranges of
huge obfong nc,lbators stand ranged
through the center; while lesser range.
similarly constructed leach with eight tiers
of shallow egg-dlawers, one above the othcr)
stand around the four sides of the room.
The capacity of the hatclling-drawers, or
multiplied trays, in these incubators is equal
TO the accommodation of about eight thou
sand eggs at a time, or. say, for turning out
one hundred and forty thousand chickens
per year.
There is anotlerroom devoted to the same
purpose, and Mr.. Baker is still further in
creasing his incubating works, with design
nf rai cir RI fa II
total Of two hundred and fifty thousand
chicks, for which, as they mature, he has |
secured a cash market for table consumption
in New 7 orl city.
Thesgas fcril athlg the ineabators is man |
ufacturea upon the premises. Beneath each I
machine is kept aiight Il single jetssof this /
gas, to heat the water conveyed through
pipes to the narrow open chambers or yacu-
ities-orer the sllrfaceof the eggs as they rest
in the trays while being hatched. This pro-
cess constantly gives to the eggs the requir-
ed artificial heat, in form quite similar to
the action OF the warmth that descends from
the natural hcn-mother's body when she is
brooding over her eggs. An ingenious,
practical and most admirable arrangement,
this; for, in Mr.. Bakers verified experience,
precisely as the hen performs her dtttyin the
natural way. SO must the incubator perform
it's duty TO be successful in the Matching.
The eggs s1lthe trays are turned regularly
o ice III {. day by the attendants. TLe heat
to Nthe interiorpf the inaabators,
as we have described is controlled; assHomat-
. H. i aas,ls,