Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-29


field, full Of the most fascinating inter-
est. replete with unexpected aud pleas
ing surprises, and also some grieyous
disappoiDtments.
The disappointments are usually due
how ever 10 ovsr-anticipstion, due TO
expectations built upon insufficient
Knowledge, and based oftentimes upon
the gilded statements made by incubst-
or manufacturers, desirous OF selling
their machines and caring but little te'
youi that.
II l. not true, despite the fact that one
finds IL SO often in print, that any child
can run an incubator, or that only rev
minutes day are required for that
purpose. Ii is true that but little time
i required To care for a good mdchiae,
Que that il not of the cheaper class, Is
honestly made and OF good materials,
aud that is reliable, as witnessed by IT'S
popularity among men who use II and
have a practical knowledge OF 1t. but
even that little time, say ten minutes TWO
or three times a day, must De gtren ana
that with great regularity.
IL oes not take long 10 learn and to
run a Matching machine-after a limited
number OF failures shd partial successes.
a ye-v fair and satisfactory degree OF
success will be attained.
But let not the reader or the wouid-oe
beginner. imagine that with the success
ful Matching of lot of chicks the whole
matter has been accomplished. Let me
caution him that to hatch the chicks u
one thing. and the successful orooding
and rearing of them is quite another and
a very different one.
In i infinitely more difficult to rear
chicks than il Is to hatch them. The
hrooding is very perplexing problem,
based upon the simplest laws, 10 be
sure. but those laws are but partially
understood and are not accessible To the
beginner save through the road OF per-
sonal experience.
To be sure IL il all only matter of
proper warmth, proper exercise, and
proper food and care. That sounds sim
pie enough, bnt these simple little mat
tiers will often assume formidable pro-
portions-pa when we remem-
her that the omission of any single one
Of these simple little matters means The
equivalent OF the omission of them all
the chicks cannot be reared.
For the above reasons | would urge
upon the reader the necessity OF trying
artificial incubation aud hrooding upon
4 small ,cale; it being An excellent plan
indeed, To deprive two or three hens OF
their hroOds putting them back on their
nests again TO do double duty, and
bringing their chicks up in brooder.
This l. often done, in fact, and not Few
people prefer doing this because oil the
time II saves. allowing Biddy 10 bring
out second brood. instead of wasting
her time with the first, which can just as
we'll be fed with the bottle" and prob
ably come out better chicks than the old
hen would have turned out.
Again, the time TO try artificial brood
ipp l. preferably in the spring. when all
of the conditions that surround the baby
chicks are not so unnatural, and the
novice is thus helped along. IL will not
be long before the salient points are ae-
quired and courage and confidence are
established.
When this time arrives, IL may be well
To enlarge ones operations, 10 invest 4
little more capital. and make greater
ventures. NiAubAN lNN'h'ts
risks In the ssme proportion a at hrst'
The writer has purpo>ely warned the
readers of this article against undertake
ing artificial poultry culture, or poultry
culture in any form. lightly and without
mature deliheraiion and preparation.
Whoever does 81, l. very likely 10 ftii.
Il i A. certain TO De u failure As II would
be il one were To enter into the practice
of law or medicine. into engineering,
into stock speculations, or into any kind
of business or trade, without just that
special kind Of training, often demand
inc years of apprenticeship and even
some natural adaptation, TO entitie him
to success. We would laugh. commiser-
atiugly. 40 any one undertaking any one
of the above things, and expecting 10
succeed, without the needed prepara-
ton: and Vet how many ot those who
have failed in the poultry business.
whether il be flock of 20 or OF 1000
hens. have started into IL with just such
unreasonable expectations:
But having now waved the red dag OF
danger into the eyes of the readers "t
thi, article, IL j. no less my duty and my
privilege 20 try 70 point out how this
danger may be avoided Through being
recognized and that fair road toward
success attained. which is not At all so
difficult, but which Is indeed one of the
safest aud surest anywhere within the
scope Of legitimate agriculture. In the
next issue of this paper we will try To
make clear the principles and practice of
broodiug, made available to any intelli-
gent and interested individual.
!. q. GEHRING, VI. d.. Bethel.