THE BIGGEST INCUBATOR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 68 (Supplement)

THE BIGGEST INCUBATOR

Tlie largest incubator in existence has just been installed at the poultry plant c-f W. 1L Curtiss and to., in Niagara County, N. 5., according to an American farming journal. In length (says the “Mark Lane Express”) this incubator is 51ft, and its width is 4ft 4m. It is mad© of wood, and stands on legs about 3ft above the floor of a basement under a gram elevator. It has 59 compartments, each 24-in square. In each compartment there are two trays, each capable of holding 75 eggs, which makes the total egg capacity of this single machine no less than 7500. The egg trays are set on double frames made of stuff, and these frames are hinged by galvanised iron arms or hinges. This feature is called the adjuster. In tlie bottom of each compartment, under each tray adjuster, there is a series of small holes, and en the bottom of each adjuster there is a steel pin that fits in the holes. As the pin is advanced towards the front in the holes, tue adjuster frame with the egg tray resting tberon is lowered until finally it settles on the bottom of the compartment. When the machine is started the temperature in the compartments is about lOddeg. As the hatch advances and the chicks develop the animal heat of the eggs is added to the various compartments, and this develops more heat in each of them. In compartments where the eggs are very fertile, more heat develops from the egg life than in compartments where tlie eggs are less fertile, and the heat of each individual compartment is told by the temperature readings of tlie thermometer therein. Six days after the start the trays receive their first drop,- and future drops are regulated by the temperature readings. inns each compartment requires but a moment’s attention, and for all it is a part of a great machine its treatment is wholly regulated by the existing condition. An even temperature is maintained in the machine by a hot-water jacketlieater at one -end. It is a small heater, and consumes pea coal. This heater is made after the Hall patent. It stands about 3ft higli, and lias triangular 14in grates. An expansion tank. lOin by Bin, made of galvanised iron, stands over the heater a little to one side. This tank is oil-filled, and in it a float- is operated. The principle of action is that as the furnace beat increases the water in the pipes of tlie jacket expands, causing the float in the oil-filled tank above to rise. This action closes a throttle attached to the float arm, and the draught of the heater is closed off, while at the same time another brass lever opens the cold-air draught of the heater. This double action makes it impossible to over-heat the eggs in the machine, and it is surprising how sensitive the regulating device is. Over the top of tlie compartment 16 ljin pipes are run for heating purposes. These run the entire length of the machine, and are connected at the ends by headers. The doors of the compartments are held closed by buttons. Each door has a double glazed front Tin by 20in in size, through which the eggs are visible. The doors of the compartments are lowered while the various elevations of the egg trays are made possible by the adjuster arrangement. It should be remembered that the heat of the pipes always remain the same.