The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
near Boston and the Petaiuma egg farm

near Boeton ana the Petalunh egg tbrur
Ing section OF California
Returning TO the matter OF custom
hatchories, the manager OF the large
produce concern referred 70 emphati-
cally stated that n hatchery In little
hamlet near the county seat had increased
the production Of poultry and eggs In
that immediate vicinity by 500 per cent
in the past three years. OF course the
effects have been felt In a wider area.
as tho farmers throughout the whole re-
gion have learned OF the success OF their
neighbors In making chickens and eggs
a profitable money crop.
A special visit was PAID to this hatch
cry with view - getting the facts first
hand The establishment is conducted by
an elderly farmer. who has been actively
Interested In poultry raising for many
years
This man began 10 use incubators ne arly
thirty years ago. his first machines being
OF HE own manufacture. After a time he
began 20 hatch a few chicks for his neigh
bors. increasing his operations from year
10 year by the addition OF more machines.
In 1871 he installed large incubator,
with q capcity of 5000 eggs. The next
year this was increased to 10000 eggs.
and last fall this was again increased.
The Matching season begins with him
about the first OF March and closes early
in June. During tho current year the
machine " as Iitl entirely Illfl curry III
the season, but for quite "A time IL was
run to full capacity. At times when the
rush was on. he could have filled u 10000
egg machine. so great was the demand
for peeps"
An inspection OF his Matching records
reveals the fact that foI" some years he
has Matched two-thirds OF all eggs placed
in the machines. In spite OF the unfavor-
able conditions existing this spring he
was able to secure approximately the same
average for the season.
The 1914 output OF this establishment
was more than 10000 chicks The price
charged for Matching Is 2ia cents per
chick. an Income Of better than $1,000 for
the four months. Averaging the season
through. the work OF receiving the eggs.
operating the machine and delivering the
chicks demands the entire time OF one
man. The fuel cost Is about $50 for the
full season.
Now to estimate the profits. The lncu-
hator cost approximately $4,000. After
making a charge OF 10 per cent deprecl-
alton. 5000. ana an additional item OF 800
TO cover the fuel and incidentals, we
ma a balance Of something more than
$500 profit for the three to four months
time OF the operator.
Judging from reports received from
custom Matching plants in many sections.
almost any district In which there exists
"A live interest in poultry offers opportu-
mites for the development of business
OF this character. The plan has much
to commend It and II is safe to predict
that II will be widely adopted as it's pos
slbnlties 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 poultrymau who
has constant supply OF Matching eggs
can cater to the custom Matching trade
and uss any vacant compa rtments in his
machine 10 turn out baby chicks. For
these there IL heavy and increasing de-
mand at very satisfactory prices, and
with the equipment at hand good In
come can be secured from this source.
Tho management OF "A large incubator
OF modern type is extremely simple. The
labor IL not heavy. or course, the work
ia combining during the Matching season:
but this covers only four to Ave months.
leaving plenty of time the remainder Of
the year 10 relax and enjoy the proceeds
OF the business.
(Copu1Ght. 1914. bU Matos-Mers Ado.
Co, Iuc)