Hot Water Machines Best
When it had been fully determined by The Corning Egg Farm to put in Hot Water Heated Incubators, the capacity desired being about sixteen thousand eggs, it was concluded to divide this capacity between two machines.
It was also decided to build an entirely new Incubator Cellar, and the dimensions were 146 feet long by 22 feet wide, 7 feet from the concrete floor to the bottom of the floor joists, these latter being 12 inches in width, making a full height to the floor of the Brooder House overhead, 8 feet. The floor joists on the under side of the floor of the Brooder House are planed and painted white. The Cellar is constructed of concrete blocks, made rock faced, and showing in the interior of the Cellar. The two incubators are also painted white enamel.
So as to eliminate any question of the consumption of oxygen by fire in the Cellar the heaters are placed with a concrete block partition between them and the incubators, the hot water pipes passing through this concrete wall, and connecting with the incubators.
In this separate part of the Cellar, where the heaters for the incubators stand, are also the two heaters for the Brooding System, upstairs, and also the large auxiliary heater which cares for the hot-water system which allows the Brooder House to be carried at an even temperature, day and night.
In the heater part of the Cellar there are three large windows, and an entrance is made into this Cellar through a vestibule which is ten by nine feet. The doors leading into this are large, double, glass doors, and from the landing just inside there is a staircase leading to the Brooder House, above. Entrance is made into the Heater Cellar through another pair of glass doors, five feet wide. The Incubator Cellar itself is reached directly in the center by a four foot door, also of glass. The two side alleys between the incubators and the outer walls, are also reached from the Heater Cellar by narrow, glass doors.
Corning Incubator Cellar Unequaled
It is believed this Cellar, with its plan of equipment, is unequaled, anywhere, as to the convenience of its general arrangement. Ample light and ventilation are supplied in the Incubation Cellar proper, by twelve windows on the north and east sides, the south wall being blank, as the chick runs from the Brooder House go out on that side.
It is impossible, owing to the necessity of the narrow alleys between the incubators and the walls, to use the V-shaped window drops, which have been so successful on the Farm for the prevention of draughts. The windows work on sash-weights, both top and bottom. A Spring Roller Shade device, covered with sheer muslin, with a screw eye on the window sill, is so placed that the cord may be passed through it, holding the shade rigid. Thus, when the prevailing wind creates a draught, the window may be opened to any desired width, and the draught prevented by the shade.
In operating the incubators they are run empty for a sufficient number of hours to adjust the regulator, and to know they will maintain a temperature of 103 degrees exactly.