The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-05

to this section alone. It consists in every locality where the poultry crop is of suf- ficient importance to induce a live buyer to locate. For instance, note the soft roaster or winter chicken district near Boston and the Petaluma egg farming section of California
 Returning to the matter or custom hatcheries, the manager of the large pro- -duce concern referred to emphatically stated that a hatchery in a little hamlet near the county seat had increased the production of poultry and eggs in that immediate vicinity by 300 per cent in the past three years Of course the effects have been felt in wider area as the farmers throughout the whole region have learned of the success of their neighbors in making chickens ana eggs profitable money crop.
 A special visit was paid this hatchery with a view to getting the facts first hand. The establishment Is conducted by an elderly farmer, who has been actively interested in poultry, raising for many years.
 Thirty Years of Experience This man began to use incubators near ly 30 years ago, his first machine being of his own manufacture. After q time he began to hatch a few chicks for his neigh bors, increasing his operations from year to year by the addition of more machines. In 1911 he installed large incubator, with a capacity of 5000 eggs. The next year this was increased to 10000 eggs, and last fall this was again increased his present machine holding 20,000 eggs at ona time.
 The matching season begins with him about the first of March and closes early in June During the current year the machine was not entirely filled early in the season, but for quite a time 1t was run at full capacity. At imes when the rush was on, he could have filled 10000 egg machine, so great was the demand for peeps
 An inspection of his matching records reveals the fact that for some years he has matched two-thirds of all eggs placed in the machines. In spite of the unfav- orable conditions existing this spring. he vas able to secure approximately the same average for the season.
 40,000 Chicks This Season
 The 1914 output of this establishment was more than 10000 chicks. The price charged for matching is 2h cents per chick, an income of better than $1000 for the four months. Averaging the season through, the work of receiving the eggs, operating the machine and delivering the chicks demand the entire time of one man. The fuel cost is about $50 for the full season.
 NOW 10 eStlmate the prof1tS. The incu- bator cost approximately 5000. After making a charge of 10 per cent depreci- atfon. $200. and an additional item of $10O to cover the fuel and incidentals we find a balance of something more than $7O0 profit for the three to four months time of the operator.
 Juding from the reports received from custom matching plants in many sections, almost any district in which there exists live interest in poultry offers opportu- mites for the development of a business of this character. The plan has much to commend it. and it is safe to predict that it will be widely adopted as it's pos abilities become fully recognized. In thickly settled sections. especially where trolley and express service is good a hatchery should pay very nice dividends year after year. The poultryman who has constant supply of matching eggs can cater to the custom matching trade and use any vacant compartments in his machine to turn out baby chicks. For these there is a heavy and increasing de- nand at very satisfactory prices. and with the equipment at hand a good in- come can be secured from this source.
 The management of large incubator of modern type Is extremely simple. The labor is not heavy. Of course. the work is confining during the matching season; but this covers only four or five months. leaving plenty of time the remainder of the year to relax and enjoy the proceeds of the business.