Improvements in Apparatus for the Rearing of Chickens, Ducklings, and other Newly-hatched Poultry and Game Birds.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1899-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1900
Improvements in Apparatus for the Rearing of Chickens, Ducklings,
and other Newly-hatched Poultry and Game Birds.
I, ERNEST ARTHUR NICHOLS, of Elm Cottage, Berkswell, in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
23
This invention relates to apparatus or appliances, commonly known as "foster-
mothers," or "rearers employed in the rearing of chickens, ducklings, pheasants,.
turkeys, guinea-fowl and other young poultry and game birds, principally those
that have been hatched in an incubator, although the same is applicable to the
rearing of broods that have been deserted by the hen.
The objects of my invention are to provide a rearer with a thorough and
hygienic system of ventilation, whereby no cold or foul air can enter or remain
in the apparatus; to improve the construction and operation of the heating
apparatus whereby the same is more easily managed and regulated for speedily-
raising and maintaining an even temperature, whilst none of the heat is wasted;
to render the whole of the parts accessible for cleaning and to provide for the
inspection of the chicks at any time without disturbing them, and to so arrange
the feeding tins that they may be removed for cleaning or re-filling without
opening the rearer.
In carrying out my improvements, the rearing apparatus comprises a structure
of convenient shape and dimensions, divided off laterally into two compart-
ments, one of which is heated by means as hereinafter described and constitutes
the
fostor-mother" part, whilst the other compartment is the feeding space,
access from the one to the other being gained through a hole in the partition,
closed by a sliding or other door, worked by a cord or the like from the outside,
so that when the chickens are fed they run from the heated foster-mother"
chamber down a slope or incline to the feeding floor, the floor of which is
preferably at a lower level than that of the other compartment.
The heating of the foster-mother is preferably effected by hot water apparatus
consisting of a boiler arranged upon the outside of one end of the structure,
with an interior flue, into which heat from a spirit or other lamp passes and
goes away through a chimney or vent. The water thereby heated is caused
to circulate through a system of pipes by passing from the top of the boiler into
U-shaped heating pipes disposed on each side of the interior of the foster-mother
chamber and being connected with one another in such a way that the heated
water passes from the upper part of the boiler, through the system of pipes and
back to the lower part continuously. To prevent the chickens coming in contact
with the hot pipes, the same are screened by perforated zinc plates, with the
pipes coming in the spaces between the said plates and the inner sides of the
chamber. Suitable outlets for steam and a feed for maintaining the water
supply are provided.
The bottom or floor of the foster-mother or heated part is elevated a distance
above the ground on which the apparatus stands and is made removable or to

page_text: slide in and out of position like a drawer for cleaning purposes. The ventilation
of the compartment for admitting fresh air and effecting the removal of foul
air is attained by providing the walls, at points below the floor with holes,
which may be covered with perforated plates, through which fresh air enters
and passes through air holes leading through the Hoor into the side spaces
containing the heating pipes and from these spaces, the fresh air circulates
through the perforations and into the interior of the chamber.
By this means the chicks are shielded from direct draughts of cold air whilst
the vitiated air passes away through vents in the roof, which may be hinged or
otherwise removable.
A
The floor of the feeding compartment is also removable for cleaning and
feeding purposes, whilst the sides or one of them, has a hinged and glazed
frame to admit of the chicks being inspected without disturbing the same.
further object of these glazed frames is to keep out cold air or strong wind if
too cold for chicks, by closing them. The glazing may be protected with wire
if necessary. The food tins may either be placed loose on the removable floor
or may be fitted to take out at the back and front of the chamber independent
of the floor.
The end or other convenient part of the rear may be provided with a door or
outlet through which the reared chicks, on becoming sufficiently mature, may
pass to the open air.
Dated this 7th day of Deconshan 1000
Improvements in Apparatus for the Rearing of Chickens, Ducklings,
and other Newly-hatched Poultry and Game Birds.
I, MARIAN LOUISA NICHOLS, Executrix and Widow of the late Ernest Arthur
Nichols, of Elm Cottage, Berkeswell, in the County of Warwick, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
foster-
This invention relates to apparatus or appliances, commonly known as
mothers," or 66
rearers" employed in the rearing of chickens, ducklings, pheasants,
turkeys, guinea-fowl and other young poultry and game birds, principally those
that have been hatched in an incubator although the same is applicable to the
rearing of broods that have been deserted by the hen.
The objects of my invention are to provide a rearer with a thorough and
hygienic system of heating and ventilation whereby no cold or foul air can
enter or remain in the apparatus; and a natural circulation of air without any
of the heat being wasted, to render the whole of the parts accessible for cleaning
and to provide for the inspection of the chicks at any time without disturbing
them, and to so arrange the feeding tins that they may be removed for cleaning
or re-filling without opening the rearer.
Figure 1 of the accompany drawings represents an elevation of one form of
foster-mother or rearer for chickens constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same showing the internal
arrangements.

page_text: Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken upon the dotted liner Figure 1.
Figure represents a transverse section of the said apparatus upon the
dotted line, looking towards the outer end, whilst Figure 5 shows a further
transverse section upon the dotted line, looking towards the middle partition.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawings.
The rearing apparatus represented in the said drawings comprises a structure
of convenient shape and dimensions, divided off transversely by means of a
partition a, into two compartments b and c, one of which is heated by means
as hereinafter described and constitutes the "foster-mother" part, whilst the
other compartment is the feeding space, access from the one to the other being
gained through holes a', in the partition, closed by a sliding door a², worked by
cord or the like from the outside, so that when the chickens are to be fed, the
doors are opened and they run from the heated "foster-mother" chamber b
down a slope or incline, into the feeding space c, the floor c', of which is
preferably at a lower level than that b¹, of the other compartment.
The heating of the foster-mother is preferably effected by hot water apparatus
consisting of a boiler arranged upon the outside of one end of the structure, with
an interior flue into which heat from a spirit or other lamp passes and goes away
through a chimney or vent. The water thereby heated is caused to circulate
through a system of pipes by passing from the top of the boiler into U-shaped
heating pipes d, disposed on each side of the interior of the foster-mother
chamber and being connected with one another in such a way that the heated
water passes from the upper part of the boiler, through the system of pipes and
back to the lower part continuously. To prevent the chickens coming in contact
with the hot pipes, the same are screened by perforated zinc plates e, with the
pipes coming in the spaces between the said plates and the outer sides 62 of
the chamber. Suitable outlets for steam and a feed for maintaining the water
supply are provided.
The bottom or floor of the foster-mother or heated part is elevated a distance
above the ground on which the apparatus stands, and is made removable or to
slide in and out of position like a drawer for cleaning purposes. The ventilation
of the compartment for admitting fresh air and effecting the removal of foul air
is attained by providing the walls, at points below the floor with holes &³, which
may be covered with perforated plates, through which fresh air enters and passes
through air holes 6, leading through the floor into the side spaces b, containing
the heating pipes and from these spaces, the fresh air, after being heated by
contact with the hot pipes d, circulates through the perforations of the side
plates e, and into the interior of the chamber. By this means, the chicks
are shielded from direct draughts of cold air whilst the vitiated air passes away
through vents f¹, in the false top f of the roof g, (which may be hinged or
otherwise removable) and through an outlet g', in the end g. The said roof is
made in two separately hinged parts ³,, the former of which covers the
chamber and the latter the chamber c, and each part is complete in itself with
ends g, g, and go, g, so that no air can pass from the one chamber to the other
by way of the roofs.
The floor of the feeding compartment is also removable for cleansing and
feeding purposes, whilst the sides c², have openings c³, filled in with wire netting
or open wire work, which admit of the chicks being inspected without dis-
turbing them, whilst hinged to the inside top of the sides of the chamber e are
a pair of glazed frames h, which are capable of being placed in two positions,
one of which is that shown in Figure 5, in which the frames are secured in
a horizontal position adjacent to the roof by means of bolts h¹, thus leaving the
sides open for the free passage of air therethrough and at the same time the
part of the roof may be turned back to admit plenty of sunlight through
the glass top formed by the said frames, whilst when it is necessary to keep cold
air or too strong winds out of the feeding space, then the roof is closed and the

page_text: retaining bolts of the glazed frames are withdrawn, so that they drop down
into a vertical position on the inside of the wired openings 2, and thereby act as
glazings to the same, as represented by dotted lines in Figure 5, in which
position they may be held by the bolts engaging the ends of the chamber.
The food tins may either be placed loose upon the removable floor, or they
may be fitted to take out at the back and front independent of the floor.
The air inlet and outlet holes 63, g, may be provided with perforated baffle
plates to prevent back air draughts and the like.
The end, of the chamber c may be provided with a door or outlet 6, through
which the reared chicks, on becoming sufficiently mature, may pass to the
open air.
The partition a, is also fitted with a window i, to admit light into the foster
mother chamber b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention; and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First In foster-mothers, or apparatus for rearing chickens, heating the
incoming air supplied to the interior of the same by passing it through spaces
containing hot pipes, and screened off from the rearing chamber by perforated
or reticulated walls, whereby the chickens are shielded from direct draughts
and the chamber is supplied with warmed air, substantially as described and
set forth.
Secondly-In foster-mothers, or apparatus for rearing chickens, supplying
the rearing chamber of the same with fresh air through a series of holes arranged
around the sides of the bottom and leading into spaces containing hot pipes
screened off from the said chamber by perforated walls, which admit the fresh
heated air whilst shielding the chickens from direct air currents and from
contact with the heating pipes, and providing the roof with baffled outlets by
which the vitiated air may pass away, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly The improved system of heating and ventilating the rearing cham-
bers of chicken foster-mothers, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Fourthly In foster-mothers or apparatus for rearing chickens, the employ
ment in combination with a chamber having side openings fitted in with wire-
work or the like, of hinged and glazed frames, adapted to either form a glazed
roof to the chamber, or glazed closures to the side openings, substantially as and
for the purpose described and set forth.
Dated this 31st day of August 1800
HENRY
SKERRETT,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.