Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-25
Labor-Saving Systems
S OIL We Problem of
Profits with Hens on
Large Scale.
BY G. II. CMITH
Author and Practical Pouitryman,

The small flock is profitable. Tens or
millions of small flocks Of hens III over
the world are sufficient evidence that
they are paying propositions
II is recognized as one of the small but
very reliable sources of income Yet the
average farmer is not fully convinced of
the possibility of big business with the
little hen. He is Interested but skep'ical
He is ready to be shown but is cunscrva-
tive.
1t is we'll to remember at this point that
immense progress has been made in
methods of poultry culture during the last
few years. What was altogether impos-
sible. even at the opening Of the present
century. has become easy OF achievement
now because of these improved systems
Improved processes of incubation prove
that the poultry industry is moving for
ward at an amazing pace in its methods
of operation-like every other occupation
from making pins to carrying on a
gigantic steel works.
The difficulty of getting the eggs hatch
ed in sufficient numbers has made large
operations practically impossible until
quite recently. The Misunderstanding ma
where, and the work is made easy
BY the use of modern incubating ma
chimes thousands of chicks can now be
Matched at once where n few years ago
only hundreds could he hatched
one company advertises machines with
capacities from leo to 9oloo The mani
pulation of them is exceedingly simple
Hot water heat is used. \ little coal fire
e bo &c
the water for the Matching of the tens
of thousands of eggs at one setting.
In the process of Matching the eggs must
he turned every day. The machinery has
been so ingeniously adjusted that ten
thousand eggs can be turned in thirty
seconds Such a device saves an enor-
nous amount of labor over the hand
turning method One man can in this
way take care of the Matching of a vast
number of eggs.
Fifteen eggs are as many as large
hen could cover. even in warm weather
il is plain therefore. that a giant hatch
ing machine with a capacity of 1000, is
equal to more than SO hens all sitting at
one time This is one of the reasons why
the poultry industry is taking rank with
the dairy business, fruit, or even with
large profits on one poultry farm
saw an incubator with a total output
capacity of $500 baby chicks every three
weeks.
IARGE-COLONY BROODTNG SYSTEM.
Matching is not the only trick to be
turned Suppose the chicks by tens of
thousands are out Of the shells-what
then?
A short time ago saw forty-five
hundred newly Matched chicks taken out
of a 6O00-capacity incubator. How can
such a horde of fluffy tender things be
cared for?
The care of the young chicks has been
as serious problem as the getting of
them. The "brooder stove" makes this
task comparatively easy
These stoves are a modern invention.
They are built in different sizes and with
capacities ranging from 300 to l,500 each.
Such are the listed capacities of the
stoves. Any one will readily recognize,
however. that there is large risk masslng
as many as fifteen hundred chicks in one
flock. It will he much safer and wiser for
all except those who are expert in such
work, TO handle a much smaller number.
As skill is developed the flocks may be
enlarged.
This colony brooder system bears the
same relation to the raising of the chicks
up to ten weeks old that the great in
Cuhatng process bears to the Matching of
the chicks With these two modern inn
provements in poultry culture it is plain
that the possibilities Of the business are
multiplied ten fold over what they were
few years ago.
Suppose We take n brooder house 1iX2>
1eet as a unit of operation. It may he
divided INTO two rooms II feet square.
in one of these rooms a hroodcr colony
stove is placed in the center. Seven or
eight hundred newly Matched chicks may
easily he cared for here until three or
Tour weeks when they may he given the
run of both rooms. This is the most
critical period in the young chicks life
CO.. the little tender things through the
f'rrth week in capital condition, and YOU
have them practically out Of the danger
zone,
Modern brooding on a big scale, there
fore, is the second step toward POSSIBLE
ties for big business in poultry culture.
A third is:
THE LARGE LAYING FLOCK.
A quarter of century ago the highest
authorities allowed only fifteen fowls in
n flock. The average floor space allotted
to each laying hen was not to be less
than 10 square feet. These conditions
We're insisted upon as essential
Steadily, however as experiments pro-
ceeded, the flocks were enlarged, and the
average floor space for each fowl was
reduced At the present time laying hens
bar in Of ia / a
the largest poultry farms whore the aim
Is mostly for the production of market
eggs, the numbers usually runs from go
10 800 in each laying pen.
This large flock principle has been
found to work we'll in the hands of skill
ed poultrymen. The danger from disease
is much greater where many birds are
massed together But the man who
knows the vital importance of cleanliness,
fresh air, and the right kind of "A balanc-
ed ration every day in the year will not
be running great risks The labor-saving
factor here is immense
For example, ! visited one big plant
where 800 layers are kept in each laying
house. One man was attending to the
feeding of seven Of these flocks, or n total
Of $3.50 fowls. Had they been divided
inop pens of 10 fowls each, according to