San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-26
THE CHICKENISTS.
SOMETHING ABOUT INCUBATION, AN
GENT AND MODERN.
Egyptian Mammals Worked to Advan-
tage-How 1t Is Done Today-Women
Succeed Best in Caring for the Little
Orphans-A Visit to the Room.

The ostrich, which is popularity supposed
to hatch her eggs by the heat of the sun,
was probably the pioneer in the science of
artificial incubation. Since the labor saving
device of this ingenious bird was discovered
many and devious ways have been found
which mitigate to q considerable degree the
duties of barnyard maternity, and threaten
in certain sections of the country to reduce
the scriptural hen and her wing sheltered
chickens to a metaphor.
Poultry raising as an industry of its
own" said an English writer not many years
ago, lis never likely to be worked to advan-
tage.n
In the light of what is being accomplished
in the business at the present time this re-
mark is a misft prophecy, and when meas
ured by historic facts proves to be an entirely
gratuitous statement.
Egyptologers claim to have discovered hero
glyphic inscriptions six thousand years old,
describing a process of artificial incubation.
Allusions to. the industry, which was success
fully prosecuted, are also found in the writ
ings of Aristotle and Diodor.- ,i,'u luS
Ar official report of les ,...a fifty years
- y
Lower Egypt l05 mammals contained at one
time 10,O00,00O eggs sand Matched 100000.
These figures almost take ones breath away,
but there is little reason to doubt that at one
period, at least. il the worlds history poul-
try raising was worked to advantage
AN ORPHAN ASYLUM SYSTEM
There are poultry runs in southern New
Jersey containing anywhere from few hun
dred to thousands of chickens, and it is
most interesting experience to examine the
incubators and make a tour of the brooder
houses. The latter consist of a series of COM
partmerts or stalls containing the separate
matches" from broilers of several weeks ex-
istence to fluffy little chicks but a few days
old. Here are asylums for waits whose own
mothers would fail to recognize them even
should opportunity occur. often wonder if
the wise old hens ever 10 by any chance dis
cover family traits a marvel as to how the
young interlopers ca. topossess them.
That the orphaned chicks are far better
cared for by their human guardians is a sad
hOmily on the limitations of parental solici-
tude Old hens crush their offspring by ac-
cident and peck them by design, but a
'chickenist" yearns most tenderly over his
flock, and even goes to the length of estab-
fishing hospital for the treatment of special
disorders. The mother of brood of chicks
instills within their young, impressionable
minds elements of apprehension and mere
dulity, but the child of artificial incubation
is eminently gullible, always regarding the
approach of his foster parent with NANTES
tationS of delight; and should the latter bury
his hand amid the velvety throbbing mass the
little creatures will climb up his arm and
and over his shoulder in the most endearing
way. 1 will not attempt to analyze the mo-
tives which prompt these pleasant little social
relations
am inclined to believe that the first quail
fcation for a prosperous career in the raising
of chickens is a strong, inherent love for the
country. Then one should be willing to start
in a small way, and no more think of invest
ing his entire fortune in this untried field
than he would think of turning it loose in
Wall street.
If his farm is small, with few and insult
able buildings he must be prepared to give
up his best living rooms to the incubators
As month after month attests his fondness
and adapta5ility for the work and he grows
in experience, the novice can gradually &C
Quire modern appliances and generally in
crease his facilities.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
The business certainly needs a liberal
amount Of perseverance and patience under
afiiiction. There is much to be done. Eggs
must be turned before and after they are
placed in the incubators, and tested for the
purpose Of removing those that are unfertile
Thermometers are to be examined at inter
va!s during the day, and, if lamps are used,
at least once after midnight as a precautiOn
against sudden changes i'll the weather
There is the careful and almost iucessant pre-
paratiQn Of food for the young chicks; in
short, the temperature, feeding and cleaning
must I've attended TO thoroughly and system
auc&--y. v omen are admirably constituted
Tor Successful 'cLlCKCEIst,," especially in the
care OF the nCCGatOrs and breeders. Ger
tam amount OF 1ussIngss which is supposed to
Oe a lcHunne prerogative, although marked
Instances OF abIlCatiOn in favor OF the ODDO-
site alE are on record, is an important attri
butte III her care Of TIE incuOatOrs Il woman
IS i1ore likely to take a second look, lust TO
be suro, You know" and viii run into the
room NJ short intervals to see how things are
progressing. As to IL breeding. a wonan's
maternal instinct rei~us supreme, and every
GutHvr.cs> chick IS promptly adopted from
the Ino.u-nJ il bursts thecoufines of its prison
house Al Of this uuweary soIIcitude, yclept
''fus>iucss, Is an iucaiculable aid to success.
Tie foIry-cI5Lt hours preceding hatch"
is period Of great anxiety. Shall it be re.
waT1yd for days and nights of watchful care
or laliurct The thermometers at this import
ant stage require more constant attention
since tie animal heat increases from hour TO
hour. uccossilating the gradual reduction OF
artificial warmth. The sand drawer must be
to EgoIuce sufficient humidity, and