Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-22
a NOVEL SIGHT.
Patching Chickens to Order BY the iacubstor
Process

The man who fathered the saying
There is nothing new under the SUM-
might have been tip-top fellow, good
Republican and ali that, but il is quite ey.
ident he never sat on picket fence and for
hours watched the Matching OF chickens by
the incubator process. Oh, no, He lived
in those good. grand old days before schem-
ing politicians and hungry ministers were
abroad in the land endeavoring to reform
party and nation, snd seeking to rob inno-
cent old hens of their glory and hurry up
the matter Of bringing fat, yelow-legged
puilets into the world without positive
knowledge as their paternity. But those
haleeon days are past and
We now have peculiarly constructed
machines for Matching chickens to order,
and IN rapid enough succession TO make
The Oldest hen in the country blush with
modification, and bring n smile OF joy to q
whole conference of clergymen. To SUBJ
staniiaie the truthfulness of the above we
do not have to site cases outside of Which,
ita, where lat, acknowledged chickens are
grown on short notice. A day or so ago
the poultry editor of the DAILY EAGLE
had the good fortune to visit and
be shown through the hennery of Mr. Chas.
Fordham in south Wichita two doors south
OF the First ward school house. Here we
found the premises alive with chickens OF
various ages and of diverse colors and
breeds. About two months ago Mr., Ford
ham, VINO has been experimenting for
year or two in the Matching of
chickens by artiieisl means, Sc.
cured a patent hatcher, and since
results, now having over five hundred
young chickens. The incubator he uses 10
known a. the Perfect Hatcher" and was
purchased from the factory at Elm;ra, New
York, for 800 and the brooder for thirty
five dollars. This hatcher 10 heated by q
der a tank OF hot water, and the tempera.
ture is regulated by = metallic rod over the
eggs, which by its contraction or expan-
sion breaks or completes an electric circuit,
which acting on clock work escapement
gives power enough to open or close the
yeutilators. The machine does very good |
work, having hatched seventy eighty |
per cent. ofihe eggs placed in it. II holds |
800 eggs at time. The chickens, as fast as |
Matched, are placed in small paper boxes
lined with flannel, and kept warm until |
they dry of, when they are ready for the /
artificial hen. These "mothers" are of
wood, lined with soft wooden cloth for
feathers, and the life's blood is warm water
from a heater. In the simmer
time, however, the s'mothers" are dispeued
with. In about two hours after tray Of
eggs are hatehed, the chickens are removed
into what IL called the temporary nursery,
where they are allowed to remain for sew
eral days, then they are removed to snoth-
er machine known as the brooder, which il
heated by steam, several pipes running
through il and distributing and giving the
required warmth TO the little chickens,
which, AZ soon as they are old enough,
IAN escape from the brooGer into the hem
lery, and return at their pleasure.
There are eight trays in the hatcher
about forty eggs each, and out
IF every tray Of eggs about thirty or thirty
i've chickens are Matched. They seem TO
BE fully as healthy aud do as well as chick
ms Matched by hen. and the little ones
ppear to be as afraid of q hen as they
Usually are OF a hawk or an owl. IL takes
he usual time, about twenty-one days. for
he eggs to hatch. and ii is one Of the most
Ioyel and interesting sights we have ever
ooked upon 10 see the eggs or chickens In
he various stages Of Matching. Some of
he chickens were just cracking the shells,
thers' heads had appeared, while Others
we're entirely out of the shell, and unless
ne stops TO think they might as well ex.
'eet TO see a chicken crawl out Of an egg :
which was lying around the house loose, as
0 see II poke it's head out Of the shell
While the egg lies exposed on one Of these
rays. II will largely repay any one who
as never seen an incubator 10 call on Mr.. 9
'ordhsm and be shown through his bepnery !,