Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26
MATCHING CHICKENS
EGYPTIAN iNcuBAToRY, A THING OF
THOUSAND YEARS AGO
An rntsrcstine Account Of the Operation
Of IN Incubatery--isrcugh Out
by Tens of Thousands
trrom Our Regular Correspondent,

IRON Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, October 25.--Some OK
eeedingly interesting information is
every now and then 10 be found in the
consular reports that are published by
the State Department. The publication
Issued this week has q report from Con-
sui General CArdwel at Cairo on "Arti-
fetal Incubation in Egypt" The aver
age person has an idea that Matching
chickens by artificial means is Yankee
trick, but it is well known by scientific
men that this is very ancient device,
and it seems to have first been expert
mented with by the Egyptians Mr..
Cardwell saws that the Egyptian incu-
batory of to-day is but reproduction OF
the one OF thousands OF years ago. In
oil these years the Egyptian breed OF
chickens has not changed, and the man.
ner of reproduction has remained i'm
snutable. "Not long ago." says Mr..
Caldwell, al secured the metal stamp OF
, chicken deposited in tomb over two
thousand years ago, and it 10 the perfect
type Of the Egyptian fowl OF to-day |;
and when this stamp was struck artificial
Incubation was IL thing OF actual exist
ence in Egypt.
DESCENDED THROUGH AGES
The methods Of Matching chickens by
artificial means and knowledge OF con-
structing appliances for the same have
descended through ages from father to
son, and the wonderful success attending
this industry throws into insignitcance
tlrc modern scientific machines lately in
PRODUCED into the United States and
elsewhere. The marvellous success Of ar
tificial fowl-produetion in Egypt proves
khe fact that inventive genius even in
America might be directed into more
successful and far less expensive methods
OF industry by drawing inspiration from
these patient, never-tiring people OF the
Nile Valley. In 1880 the fowl industry
of the United States amounted to over
e200, 600. 900, and if to 30 vast an indus
try could DO applied to the economies of
EGyptisn production, profits would be
trebled. These economies are exercised
IN everything. Not only are eggs put
through tho process Of incubation more
cheaply than anywhere else IN the world,
but chicks are reared at an expense past
comprehension, while disease and natu-
raj death among fowls. because of tire
loss care, are almost unknown.
AN EGYPTIAN IscUBAroRY.
In his report Mr.. Csrdwell gives IN IN
terestjnr diagram of an incubatOry which
he visited, tells all about its workings,
aud adds many other points OF decided
interest. He goes on to narrate "Ihe
Sncubntory is constructed Of sun-dried
bricks, mortar, and earth. The one ex-
emined by me was a structure seventy
feet leng, sixty feet wide, and sixteen
feet high. 1t is provided with twelve
compartments or incubators, each capa-
ble OF holding 1900 eggs, making to-
tal capscity of 10000 eggs undergoing
Incubation at one time. The season OF
operation lasts oRly three months out Of
tie twelve, beginning with March and
ending with May, therefore allowing
three weeks for incubstipg eggs and one
week for removing each hatch and prepa-
ration for again filing the incubators
with eggs. The number Of eggs under
treatment ut this incubatory IN one sea-
son may be placed at 270,000. From
those are Matched 234, 600 chicks. Theper-
centage OF hatch would be much greater,
but the eggs, being necessarily procured
in large quantities and from distant
places, are largely damaged for incuba-
ton. Still, those lacking vitality are
not lost"
CHEAP CHICKS AND EGGS.
"E1perience makes the attendants OF
the incubatofs great experts, and In a
very fow days after the eggs are placed
in the ovens the trained hand detects as
quickly the unvitalized egg as does the
expert bank cashier the defective coin.
The unvitalized eggs are at once placed
upon the market at low prices for Gull
nary consumption. Eggs are bought for
the incubatory ut never exceeding cents
per dozen, and chicks just from the
shell are sold at less than Is cents per
dozen. After the incubators begin to
turn out their product people come from
all the surrounding region. buying up
the hatch IN numbers TO suit and dis
posing of eggs in exchange for chicks
The latter, distributed everywhere, are
then reared, with very small percentage
OF loss, for sale IN the markets. The
oven crop of marketable chickens is es-
timated at Is, 900, 900 in one season, and
calculating that one fourth only OF this
crop Of chicks die during their growing
period, il may bs asserted that 20, 900. 600
is the hatch OF the ovens. Here is hinge
economy To hatch the same number
of chicks by the natural method would
call into requisition the patience OF
1900, 900 hens. and al this vast number
of mothers would require sustenance
during two months of incubation and
brooding. The curiously -inclined are
left to figure ont what Egyptians save in
resorting TO artificial incubation and
they will be surprised TO think that it
takes vastly less care to look after the in-
cubation of 10000, 900 eggs in tue ovens
than would be required with 1900, 900
festhered mothers. One man and boy
ere the sole attendants of the incubatory
j explored. They live in the ovens
night and day during the entire period
OF three months devoted to incubation.
ONE MAN AND A BOY.
"The temperature surrounding them is
never less than % degrees +. This man
and boy keep up the smoldering fires
that create this temperature they place
the eggs in the ovens. move the great
masses Of eggs four or five times during