The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-17
A miIIionalre's Poultry.


In TIE first yard were lot Of Houdans,
4 Freuch breed liked By Mr.. Vanderbilt.
although Mr. Heidimann does not think
80 much Of them. They are very hand
some and graceful. have large black and
white spots on their feathers. and big
toPknots, colored similarly. In the next
yard were brown LeghOrDs. beyond those
white Legtorns and in the fourth yard
Plymouth Rocks Adjoining the feed
room is the incubating room. the most
interesting Of all. This roOm contains
double and two single incubstors, having
4 united capacity Of 500 eggs,
The incubators are Of the last pattern,
those formerly used by Mr.. Heidtmann
having been discarded. Every possible
care is used to make the machines success
ful- Mr.. Heidtmznn has added 4 num-
Der OfdeViees Of his own to guard against
possible failure. The safety valves are
delicately poised to regulate the heat IN
the incUbafors, which must not bs more
than los degs, nor less than l0I degs.
The same system Of heating by not water
pipes isused in them, the heat for the
boiler coming from a large, common
lamp. In order to provide against IN
forseen occurrence an alarm bell IS At
taehed to the heating pipe. Delicate
rods act on an electric bell, which rings
in the building during the day and in
Mr.. Heidtmann's house at night.
The broOders are arranged so that the
newly hatched chickens 20 into the one
occupied by those described. As they
grow older ami stronger they are moved
along until they are big enough to shit
for them elves, when they fall victim to
Mr.. Vsnderbilt's liking for tender broii-
err. The temperature in the first brood
er IS kept at about $ degs, and it de-
scsnds gradually in the others. The heat
Is supplied by hot water pipes. which
run above the heads Of the chickens.
In some brooders the heat comes from
below, but Mr.. Heidtmann says that it
Eeakens the chickens leg and keeps
them small
in order TO give the flesh favor and
firmness," be said, chickens must be
brought up quickly. IF they are not
well fed and nourished they viii grow
slowly and become tough"
Back Of each oroOder is an exact copy
Of the sun parlor in use at winter resort
hotels. The parlor is small. made Of
glass and iron. aud the floor Is s,rewn
with coarser sand than that IN the
brOoders- There are half a. many par
lo1s as brooders. Beyond these are stiT
larger sun parlors Of the same kind, with
ordinary sand and pebbles on the floor.
Still farther back are open yards seventy
i've feet in depth On warm days the
strong young chickens are out either in
the sun parlors or t5eOpen yards. some
Of the bigger chicks in the last brooders
were running about their psrlors on the
day Of visitation There are cooler brood
ers in the feedroom, but they are not in
use now. The doors in the brooders
le2dlng 70 the sun parlOIs are controlled
BY cords Every preca ution Is observed
TO avoid frightening the chickens.
Workmen are busy constructing a brick
cottage, in which Mr. HeidtmSn viii live.
On the other side Of this cottage dred-
gers are making canal for the white
ducks that Mr.. Vanderbilt viii raise.
The dredgers have been at work for three
years. for the canal is long, reaching to
the bay. A circular duck pond has been
built. Mr.. Vanderbilt prefers the White
Pekins, Mr.. Heidtmann said, although
he now has some ROuens.
Eve now have about forty ducks he
said, and about 200 chickens By next
season We VIII have FROM I,200 to I,500
chickens Mr.. Vanderbilt says he never
ate as good orOilers as those We raise
here. Monte Carlo is famous for good
eating, but he SAYS even there the chick
eus don't have flavor ike Ours.-Ne,r T9rs
81