The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-10-08
Matching Eggs on Large Scale.


The proprietors of the Pittsfield
Poultry Farm write US that they have
just signed contracts with the Hal
Mammoth Incubator Co. for two oil
their machines each with a capacity
for 5000 eggs at one setting The
business of the Pittsfield Farm has
grown so rapidly during the past year
that they find their present equip
ment of 20 largest size Cyphers and
Prairie State incubators incapable Of
handling the work put upon them.
These new large machines are the
first of the kind to be installed in this
state.
The enlarged capacity will enable
the Pittsfield Farm to handle more
promptly and in greater quantities
the demands made on them for day
old chicks. The buying Of day-old
chicks is growing to be very popu-
lar and satisfact DRY way for smaller
breeders to acquire new stock and the
method overcomes all the difficulties
of infertile eggs and poor matches.
1t is customary for the seller to guar
antee safe delivery of the chicks to
the buyer and it is seldom that any
loss in transit is reported. We un-
derstand the Pittsfeld Farm pur-
poses TO sell these day-old chicks at
prices ranging from 25 cents each
down to 10 cents each according to
quantities.
1t is very likely also that this pro-
gressive farm will attempt to build up
a business in custom Matching, which
consists in Matching eggs brought to
them by different customers. This
business is carried on in this way:
anyone with rs or more eggs to hatch,
who does not wish to have the
trouble of attending to them or who
wishes to hatch them early in the sea.
son and cannot get hens TO set or who
has not appliances one way or another
to handle them carries his eggs or
ships them to the party conducting
the business; this party places these
eggs in one or more sections of his
large incubator and matches them in
the same way he would his own eggs.
At the expiration of the q days re-
quired for incubation the owner of
the eggs calls for his chicks or in the
case of those sending from distance
the chicks are packed and sent to
them. The charge for this work is
usually $100>pe tray of eggs; each
tray holds rs eggs or in other words
the charge is It cents per egg. For
eggs that have to be called for at the
express Office and taken back and re-
shipped to the owner charge IS
made for carriage of 25 cents each
way. This charge is the same for
any quantity of chicks A small
charge is also made for the packing
of The chicks and for the boxes in
which they are packed.
ANY farmer or breeder having eggs
from his own flock to hatch and not
being situated so to do it himself con-
veniently will find it distinctly to his
advantage to send his eggs to such an
establishment as he will be able to
get the chicks he wants without the
least trouble to himself and at low
cost and will also have the advantage
of having his incubating done by peo-
pie of experience and in machines of
the most approved pattern, which ad-
vantages would very likely result in
his getting sufficiently more chicks to
paw for the cost of incubation. We
would advise any of our readers TO
consider the above very carefully and
having it in mind TO buy any day old
chicks or to have any custom hatch
ing done to write the Pittsfield people
and obtain prices and dates for de-
livery. Arrangements for custom
Matching would of necessity have to
be made sometime in advance so as
not to interfere with their own
matches or those of others already
contracted for.
The Pittsfeld Co. also advises us
that this change leaves on their hands
20 incubators 400 eggs size that they
will have to dispose of at once in or
der to make room for their new ma
chimes. These incubators are all in
strictly first class condition, exactly
as good as new and many of them
practically new, of the Cyphers and
Praire State makes and capable
of giving the very best results. The
change is not made because of any
trouble with the old machines but
SIMPLY W give ldl BCl SdpaSloy anu
less expense in operation. We are
advised that these machines will be
sold at much reduced prices and un-
der guarantee that they are all right
Anyone anticipating pun chasing one
or me re incubators this season will dc
well to correspond with them and OBJ
tain prices before purchasing else
where. An attempt will be made to
dispose of the machines as quickly as
possible SO anyone interested should
not delay in writing them.
In addition to these mammoth in
cubators the same people have con-
tracted with the Hall people for
double pipe brooder system of the
most approved kind with capacity foI
10000 chicks. The Pittsfield Poultry
Farm intends to keep itself strictly
up to date in all methods and appli'
ances tending toward better success
in the chicken business.
Somerset Pomona Grange.