The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-06-02
\ New Fork Poultry Farmer

tf = New YoHk Poultry Farmer
About year ago report was given
OF Henry Van Dreser's poultry farm
Ing. You were told Of the high price
ne got for his eggs, all Of them going
to one grocer on Fifth avenue, New
York. 1t was reported also how many
hens he intended to have laying this
winter. and that all the eggs were con-
tracted at q fancy figure to one dealer.
Inc report seemed almost incredible.
out the business goes right on all the
same. and the money is rolling in,
writes T. B. Terry to Practical FAR
mer. Mr.. Van Dresser is one OF the
N. Y. Institute force and q man who
succeeds when he undertakes any
thing. He paid for large. nne farm.
and made his marx in the worlu by
breeding Holstelns. A few years ago
he became interested in the poultry
business. He says they Always kept
liens. but they never waterea lnem III
winter, nor did they FEED them proper
~. lAe hen mouse was cold anu nl.ny.
II was not cleaned out tor years at
a time. and their neus We're AL ages.
Ihey old not get any eggs IN wln.er.
When ne determined W make q
change, and take care Of the poultry,
they nrst dressed the entire 1ot, o4u
ana young, and sent them TO market.
Amen luey bought a 2Uv-egg incubator.
next 2OU eggs were procured from an
expert. lucy PAID S2V Tor THESE, as
they wanted to start with the best
money could buy. Mr.. van dresser
says ne could not AFFORD to breed up
the old mixed stock lney nad, Dut de-
sired to take advantage OF all mat had
peen done IN this line. Inc eggs came
by express. They were alioweu 70 rest
"a hours after lney arrived before
they were put in the incubator. The
NTH day they were taken out and
tested. The lnfertile ones were saved
70 feed to the young chickens later on.
VI course the eggs were turned each
day afterwards. lhe 18th day, along
toward night, the chickens began to
pick their way out of the shells. This
poultry business was started by Mr..
Van Dresser partly on account Of boy
they were bringing up, and ne and the
boy sat up all night, SO interested weres
they. watching the chickens hatch out.
All Of Them Ssre out by the 18th day.
They were left in the incubator "a
numbered 81 to each 100 eggs, in this
first trial of the incubator; 10 of these
were raised, that is, u grown chick
ems were obtained from each LOU eggs
bought. In due time the little chlck-
ems were transferred to a brooder, or
course. The first incubator was used
in the house cellar. This caused the
fire insurance company to cancel their
policy. But Henry says they didn't
propose to be stopped by any such
little matter. They went ahead, but
were particularly careful about fire.
Having such good results the first
time, MIR. Van Dresser was anxious to
increase the business rapidly, and
talked the matter over with his
friends. MIR. Geo. A. Smith, the dairy
expert, begged of our enthusiastic
friend to go slow; and he did. al
though it was hard work for him. He
felt his way along gradually, study
ing and learning all he could. The
second year another incubator was
bought, and brooder to match. And
still they prospered in this new under
taking They built two-story house
for the Matching and brooding of the
little chicks. 1t is 40x45 feet. The
basement has cement floor and there
tho incubators are used, four of them
now. Three have a capacity OF 300
eggs each, and one Of 200. They in
tend to get another next spring. The
brooders are in the second story. There
are four Of them. three Of 300 chicks
capacity and one of 200. The chicks
are kept in these, with the, little run
ways attached, for three or four
weeks. Mr.. Van Dresser says the
brooders will keep the number of
chicks they are rated for that long
safely, and then the chickens need
more room. as they are growing. An.
educated expert, graduate of Cor
nell University, has charge of the
business now. It has grown to be so
large that one mans constant atten.
ton is needed. They are now arrang-
ing system Of outdoor brooders to
transfer the young chicks to from the
brooding house. How many laying
hens do you suppose they have this
winter? Twenty-three hundred. Yes.
a single hen house. built last season.
to make room for their growing busi-
ness, is 365 feet long, Is feet wide and
9h feet high. The apartments inside
are 15x15. with wire netting for divi-
sion walls. Nine tons Of Portland
cement was used to make the floor
Of this one building. So perfectly is
the building constructed that It never
gets freezing cold inside. In the center
Of this long building single large
room is built two stories high, which
adds to the looks very much and
makes an Office where the books are
kept and the business matters attend
ed TO. There 10 stove IN this Of.
course. asked Mr.. Van Dresser IL he
considered this system Of Matching
and raising chickens better than the
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