Improved Apparatus or Foster Mother for Rearing Poultry.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left 21st Sent 1897 Accepted 20th Nov 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus or Foster Mother for Rearing Poultry.
CHARLES WALLIS DAWSON, The Orchards, Oving, Chichester, Sussex, Poultry
Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to an improved apparatus, known as a Foster Mother, for
rearing chickens or poultry. Said improved apparatus essentially consisting in
constructing a small wooden box, with flat or angled roof, having a division or
partition in the centre, one division serving as the calorific chamber, which is maintained
at the requisite degree of heat, and the other, which is in communication with the
aforesaid chamber, serving as a promenade for the chickens in the open atmosphere.
The calorific chamber is provided with a metal, hollow tube or channel, passing
through the centre or near the centre of the chamber, and the centre of this tube is
provided with an opening in its lower side in communication with a lanp, the
products of combustion passing freely away from each end of said hollow tube.
A felt covering partly envelopes said metal tube and acts as a retainer of the heat,
and in the jacket space, both under the metal radiator and over and around it, the
chickons exist in an atmosphere the temperature of which is maintained at that
point corresponding to the heat given off by a hen. The felt is supported at each end
by bridges of wood, metal, or other material, and the felt in addition is impregnated
with any of the well-known insect-killing powders now in use. The regulating of the
temperature is effected by having small openings in the lower side of the calorific
chamber to permit a steady flow of fresh air to permit combustion in the lamp, and
the lamp in addition is provided with automatic heat regulators which either actuate
the screws regulating the elevation of the lamp-wick, or said automatic regulator
inay operate flap valves on the extremities or outlets of the metal radiating tube or
cylinder, herein before described.
Dated 10th of No 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus or Foster Mother for Rearing Poultry.
CHARLES WALLIS DAWSON, St. Barnabas Road, Sutton, Surrey, late of The
Orchards Oving Chichester Poultry Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
To more fully describe and identify my said invention I produce 5 drawings of
the same.
Figure represents a perspective view of my "Improved Apparatus or Foster
Mother for Rearing Poultry."
of the calorific or marm chambor

page_text: A¹ is a view of the feeding chamber or nursery.
A is a view of the outer run where the chicken may be allowed to run in warun
or mild weather.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional of Figure 1 and is more particularly
described by referenco to the alphabetical order set forth below.
The letter B indicates the position or interior of the calorific or warm chamber
where the chickens are reared. It is essential that in the construction of any
apparatus to act as a Foster mother some artificial means must be adopted to
reproduce the natural conditions under which the fowl or other life will live, and
one or more of the most important points in these artificial means is to ensure
a norwal temperature within the apparatus constructed and employed, together with
a perfect system of ventilation, without either of which no young life can he expected
to exist. These conditions are laws of nature and must constitute the laws
regulating the construction of apparatus for carrying the same into effect.
The questions of beat and air being considered, I next use and apply a covering,
under which the little chicks may nestle separately or together for more natural
coufort and warmth; this covering essentially consists of a blanket of felt,
which being made to pass over the top of the healing cylinder C absorbs additional
heat and diffuses the sume again over the backs of the little creatures within the
chainber B. It thus forms au artificial ineans of representing the wing of the hen
or covering provided by the natural mother. I mention the use of felt as being the
material more preferably used by me for this specific purpose, for sovenil reasons;
amongst which greater cleanliness and greater freedom from insects or vermin life
may be counted worthy of notice. I may use other materials or I can make and use
a form of feathered cloth, but these would not be so substantial as the felt as specified.
The felt or other covering material used by me can be impregnated with insect or
vermin destroying or killing powders.
The chamber B is therefore constructed in the inanner set forth in this specification
and is essentially a square chamber, being the inuer portion of a kind of wooden
box,
Within this chamber T fit a long metal hollow tube channel or cylinder, marked C,
Figure 2, having one or more openings for the purpose of allowing heat to pass directly
in or out as more particularly described, as follows:-
The cylinder C may be made of either tin or zinc or some other material of
a similar nature. It may be either round or in either of the other forms as shewn in
the shects of my drawings Nos. 4 and 5. Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, but for the
present I prefer to use the round cylinder as shewn in the sheet of my drawing No. 2
and marked C.
The cylinder in any case is constructed substantially as follows. The body of the
cylinder C has two or more holes cut one in the top and marked F, and the other
un lerneath and marked F1; the latter is the one into which the lamp glass is
inserted, as shown in my aforesaid sheet of drawing No. 2, an asbestos ring being
fixed round the hole for the glass to pass through in order to prevent the escape of
guses into the chamber. A conical or square chimney Figure 2, letter H, is made to
pass through the hole Faud is fitted with heat regulating damper, Fig. 2, letter I,
so that the heat from both the cylinder and the lamp can be held in check either by
hand or by menus of an automatic heat regulator (the latter may be of known form
or the subject of another patent). Both ends of the cylinder C are constructed loose
so that they fit like a lid, aud can be removed for cleaning purposes. The ends or
lids are again fitted with the pipes or tubes D for the purpose of carrying away the
fumes and gases from the combustion of the lamp E, such fumes or gases being
made to pass into the space S Fig. 2 between the outer roof and the inner lid of the
warin chamber, which also serves as a means of further protection from sudden
changes of temperature. This form of heating and for this purpose is both novel and
new.
The Felt K, Fig. 3, or such other material as may be used for this specific
purpose may be made to pass over the top of the cylinder and through the wire or

page_text: wooden rods L Fig. 3, fixed to the sides of the chamber or cylinder and then passed
over the wooden bars M, Fig. 3. which will assist in supporting the same in a position
sufficiently high above the floor of th chamber B so that the little chicks can nove
as under the wing of the heu, the centre portion of the felt by this means hanging
loose, so that the chicken can move about from place to place, the felt rising or
falling as pressure is brought to bea nuderneath the same.
A lamp is fitted in the lower portion of the chamber B for the purpose of heating
the cylinder C as specifiel and in such a position as to be used for the simultaneous
purpose of warming the air as it enters the said chamber B.
The lamp marked E, Fig. 2, may be made to burn parafin or other oils or gases
may be used; it is of ordinary construction or may be modified according to the use
of special oils or gases. The chickens are protected from approaching too near the
lamp by surrounding the lamp glass with the perforated zinc P. It also affords
light for the young chicken either to nove about or for feeding purposes within the
warin chamber either by night or by day.
The lamp can also be fitted with regulator to work automatically, or a long
regulating rod can be fitted as shewn in my drawing, Figure No. 3 and marked 1.
Letter G, Fig. 2, is the raised floor on which the chickens live. This floor is
mised to such height as may be necessary to allow of a continual flow of fresh air
through the space O, Figures 2 and 3, to support both life and combustion; the
lamp being placed in such a position as to obtain air direct and the floor is also
constructed so as to allow of the air passing the heated glass so that it shall be
warmed before entering the chamber B. This air is admitted between the floors into
the space O through the air holes R, Figures 1 and 3. The upper floor cau be
covered with peat moss or other suitable material.
The front of the chamber A' Figures 1 and 2, is fitted with glass to keep cold
winds from blowing into the interior, space being allowed near the top for
ventilation.
Figure 2, letter U, is the outer run of ordinary construction.
Figure 2, W, W, W, indicate divisional doors by which the fowl pass from one
division to another, and one or more of them may be fitted with canvas or other
material to prevent draughts.
Figures and 3 letter V are ventilation holes to allow of the fumes or guses
passing into the open air.
Figures 1 and 3 letter V, are ventilation holes to allow foul air to pass from the
chamber B into the open.
Figure 2 indicates the position of heat regulators when in use, letter 1.
Figure 1 letter R indicates the position of air spaces or holes for the admission of
pure atmospheric air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Warm atmospheric chamber free fron fumes or gases and into which puro
heated air is admitted, being constructed and heated substantially as specified.
2. The use of a horizontal cylinder as a means of diffusing heat by means of
filling the interior with hot gases or lamp fumes, as specified.
3. The use specifically of a felt or other material covering, placed over the backs
of the chicken or other poultry to be reared, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the above for the purposes and in the manner specified.