Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-27
ECONOMY In CHICKEN RAISING.
The Incubator on the Farm-Article Contributed BY
Veil Known Farmer

While the incubator is not yet an es
tablished part of the general farm equip
ment, 1t has become necessity to pres
emit day poultry raisers, whether th.
business is carried on exclusively or as {
side issue in connection with farm ol
other industries. 1t has so many ad
vantages over the old.time method oi
Matching with hens, that by means OF
1t and with the help of the brooder, the
poultry business has grown into an ex.
tensive and important industry This
growth has been rapid so RAPID in fact,
that within the memory of still young
peenla. this now popular branch OF
! farming, was practically controlled by
the efforts Of the poorly equipped farm
ers' wives. Then otherwise liberal
minded men actually begrudged the
POOR hen her scanty living. Only the
rudest kind Of shelter was provided and
often none at all, and that this then des.
pissed occupant of the barn-yard would
ever reach her now important position,
was undreamed of even. But with the
growth of cities, and better transporta-
tion facilities came demand for eggs
and poultry, and to meet this increas-
ing demand greater efforts were made
to raise more and better poultry, the
latter TO vary its season. To accom-
plish these results, especially the last
named, artificial incubation was experl.
n epted with, until the successful incu-
bator was at last perfected.
But while it was known that chicks
could be so hatched, it was not known
that these new machines could be sue
cessfully operated, except by experts.
But as time went on and poultry rails
ing became more popular, and the de-
mands of such products increased, more
attention was directed toward the in.
cubator and simpler machines were con-
structed and placed upon the market
Now they are 80 common as to no longer
excite curiosity. and even children are
frequently familiar with them. AL
though this is true and their value is
now generally recognized. they have not
yet, as was stated in the beginning, be-
come an established adjunct to the farm.
That they will in time is very probable,
at least to certain extent.
Why this may be expected, there are
many reasons. In the first place, the
season of the output may be absolutely
controlled, not of the poultry alone, but
o. eggs also. Then again both poultry
snd eggs may be produced in larger
quantities andat all times. The reason
why this is true, is because the young
stock nlay be Matched and grown suffi-
ciently early in tine season TO insure pull
let's in time TO produce their fist lay in
the fall and early winter months, when
the old hens are naturally idle This
arrangement in turn, enables the breeder
to secure eggs from which to hatch
broilers for the early spring market
After this there is still time to run out
the next falls layers in season TO push
off the culls and cockerels at fancy
price Thus good prices are insured,
and the work is off hands before other
teamwork becomes pressing Another
advantage in rearing the chicks early is,
that they then escape lice and the dep
rotations of rats, hawks, and other
natural enemies.
All this the incubator makes possible,
thereby multiplying the profits and ma
terially decreasing the labors Of poultry
raising. These things specialists have
of course known and practiced FOR
years, but the farm and the farmer
must necessarily continue to furnish the
bulk of the worlds poultry, and know
ing this, in this progressive age, farm
ers as well as specialists will come to
bnc OCcb W
the desired result.
That they are not in more general use
now may be attributed solely to their
cost, which, while not excessive, is still
enough TO seem to many prohibitive.
Whether or not the cost of first-class
machine will ever be much less than at
present, is impossible to say; that it will
however, is probable, but again we may
sacrifice quality to price, in case 1t does.
But the incubator, although getting the
most OF the credit, is alone inszfncient.
In fact it is in reality an incomplete
device, for it can only hatch the chicks,
after which they are to be still reared.
This necessitates the use of another and
equally important machine. Therefore
with every order for an incubator should
be included another for brooder
OBSERVER