A Word in Closing
Our business is running The Corning Egg Farm and not writing books, so
that in telling our Story we may have lacked some of the polish of the
experienced author, but every word that we have written is true, and we
shall be very glad to welcome any of our readers at the Farm, and let
them see for themselves just what we have.
The Corning Egg Farm actually does enjoy the supreme position among
the egg farms of the World that we claim for it, and that the great
authorities, after thorough, personal examination, have frankly
admitted.
And we have been far more open in telling you everything that has been
done on the Farm than, for instance, owners of large manufacturing
plants would be.
Methods and problems in the successful and profitable production of
eggs for table and hatching purposes have been worked out on The
Corning Egg Farm, and we are quite willing others should have the
benefit of our very expensively acquired experience.
Nothing to Hide
We have nothing to hide; nothing to keep to ourselves. We started in a
very modest way, and believe that is the preferable way to successfully
build up a paying poultry farm. Those who have an abundance of capital
might be tempted to work out too many self-evolved theories and to
begin on too elaborate and extravagant a basis, whereas, in our
opinion, it is wiser to follow precedent, known successes, and start in
a smaller way and expand.
Illustrations are Photographs
The illustrations in this Book are all from photographs, and the camera
cannot be persuaded to exaggerate or to show buildings where there are
none. The diagrams are drawn of sufficient size, and such measurements
given, that our plant in its entirety, or any part of it, can be
readily reproduced by anyone who cares to do so.
The Corning Success
The success we have made on the Farm gives us a certain feeling
of satisfaction that we are entitled to enjoy, and yet we have
accomplished nothing that cannot be done by any person who will give as
much thought, time and attention to the work as we have.
Our Advice to Beginners
Our advice to the beginner is that he carefully study the Corning
Method as set forth in this Book (and we want to impress upon you again
the fact that the Corning Method is just as adaptable to the town
lot as to the large tract, and in this particular it surpasses other
systems which have had considerable publicity), and then start, either
with a breeding pen, or with an incubator and hatching eggs purchased
from a Breeder whose eggs can be depended upon, and in this connection
Single Comb White Leghorns Only
we want to say that for the production of eggs there is only one breed
of fowls--Single Comb White Leghorns--and that, in considering the
purchase of a breeding pen, or eggs for hatching, experience will
show that it is the height of folly to begrudge the additional price
you must pay in order to get the right kind of Stock. Whether you buy
Corning Strain or not, let us again emphasize the fact that no matter
how famous the Breeder, or how high his prices, if he has not a Strain
that has proved itself a good Strain, you do not want it at any price.
It is
It’s “Strain” You Want
Strain that counts, because it includes every good quality for the
purpose, and the market for the right Strain for breeding and hatching
is a very large and profitable one. The Corning Egg Farm cannot produce
enough birds and eggs to fill its orders, and probably never will,
because we do not believe in increasing the size of the Farm beyond our
ability to be personally in constant touch with every detail connected
with it.
Utility, Not Show Birds
We want to write just a word or two as to the difference between
a Strain for the production of eggs and of Show Birds. It must be
remembered that a great laying Strain cannot be, at the same time,
a Show Bird, at least not under the present requirements of the
Association, because a great egg layer must have size, and must be bred
to produce size, and not inbred to secure fancy Show points, which
produce a bird without constitution, and eggs from birds of the show
class are small, the fertility runs low, and, in many instances, their
hatchability is so poor as to be hardly worth speaking of.
Corning Largest Specialty Farm in World
The Corning Strain Single Comb White Leghorn is an egg machine, a large
bird, of vigorous constitution, and typical Leghorn shape. The Corning
Egg Farm is the largest poultry farm in the World devoted entirely and
exclusively to one single purpose--the developing and breeding of the
great egg machine, Corning Strain Single Comb White Leghorn.
Points That Mean Success
Just to repeat in regular order the points a Breeder must observe if he
is to make a permanent success:
Suitable location for houses and runs.
Properly planned, arranged and constructed houses.
Right breeding stock.
Hatching eggs from a farm that has “made good.”
Care in incubating and brooding.
Proper handling of the pullets and cockerels.
Careful selection of breeders.
Regularity in feeding and attending.
Properly balanced ration.
Clean, sanitary quarters, fresh water, and pure air, all the time.
Constant adherence to one Strain, and that the best Strain.
Be jealous of your reputation, because it is on your reputation that
you build up a demand for breeding stock and eggs for hatching.
Care, and courtesy, and regularity in serving customers.
You will know after reading this Book that on the Farm we have little
idle time on our hands, and yet we are always willing to advise and
help those who are really seriously seeking information, and who are
willing to accept what we may be able to give them, in addition to the
contents of this Book, and in our regular way of furnishing it.
THE AUTHORS.
BUILDINGS ON THE CORNING EGG FARM AND MANY HANDY DEVICES
These plans and drawings are of sufficient size to show quite clearly
the construction of every building on the Farm. Those who care to do so
are entirely welcome to duplicate the entire Plant, or any part of it.
As the dimensions are also given, it is a simple matter to reduce
the size of the buildings to suit a flock of any number, because, as
we have made clear in the Book, the Corning Method and Buildings are
equally suitable for the largest flock, or the few hens and a rooster
kept by the average family.
We do not want to be thought egotistical, but believe we have the most
complete and economically arranged lay-out in the country, but if any
reader thinks he can point out improvements we shall be very glad to
hear of them, and to discuss those that are worth while in some future
edition of the Book.
Of course it is easier to build from an architect’s plans, and we can
furnish working size blue-prints of the principal buildings.
[Illustration: EXTERIOR OF THE CORNING BROODER HOUSE
Total length, 264 feet. The older part, 118 feet long, is 16 feet in
breadth; the new addition of 146 feet is 22 feet wide.]
[Illustration: FLOOR PLAN OF BROODER HOUSE
Equipped with Hovers, giving capacity for 12,000 Chicks at one time.]
[Illustration: CROSS SECTION OF HOVER FLOOR
Showing hot water pipes underneath, and hinged runway, with drawing of
entrance gate from alley to Hover pen.]
[Illustration: BROODER HOUSE WINDOWS AND VENTILATORS
Showing details of construction.]
[Illustration: CROSS SECTION OF BROODER HOUSE AND INCUBATOR CELLAR]
[Illustration: DETAIL OF BEAM FILLING
Where building is over 16 feet in width, floor beams are 2″ x 12″.]
[Illustration: FLOOR PLAN OF INCUBATOR CELLAR
146 feet by 22 feet, with a capacity for 15,600 eggs at a setting, and
space to double the number.]
[Illustration: SPROUTED OATS CELLAR
With capacity for sprouting 100 bushels of oats at a time.]
[Illustration: VESTIBULED ENTRANCE TO INCUBATOR CELLAR
Also giving access by inside stairway to Brooder House.]
[Illustration: WEST END OF BROODER HOUSE
Opening into Sprouted Oats Cellar, and by stairway up to Brooder
House.]
[Illustration: THE CORNING LAYING HOUSE
Which is built in 20 foot sections, and can be extended to any desired
length. Those on The Corning Egg Farm are 160 feet by 16 feet.]
[Illustration: INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT OF LAYING HOUSE
Showing the draught-proof roosting closets, and arrangement of nests,
drinking fountains, etc.]
[Illustration: CROSS SECTION OF LAYING HOUSE
Showing method of raising perches while cleaning dropping board.]
[Illustration: DETAILS OF MASH BOX]
[Illustration: CONSTRUCTION OF LAYING HOUSE RUNWAY
Opening being placed at back of dropping boards. See Cross Section of
House on opposite page.]
[Illustration: DOORS OF LAYING HOUSE
Showing outside half wire door and solid interior door with observation
window.]
[Illustration: DETAIL OF SILL CONSTRUCTION OF LAYING HOUSE]
[Illustration: CORNING VENTILATOR
Showing full details of construction. Used in Laying House.]
[Illustration: GRIT, SHELL AND ASH HOPPER]
[Illustration: CORNING COLONY HOUSE
The Cotton Duck Windows when hooked up forming awnings.]
[Illustration: SIDE ELEVATION]
[Illustration: DETAIL OF WINDOW FRAME]
[Illustration: FLOOR OF COLONY HOUSE
Showing skids, and brace construction. Also Storm Trench.]
[Illustration: PLAN FOR UTILIZING COLONY HOUSE AS A BROODER]
[Illustration: DETAILS OF LAYING HOUSE WINDOW,
Showing Handy Button Fastener.]
[Illustration: BOX FOR MOVING PULLETS FROM RANGE TO LAYING HOUSE.]
[Illustration: BOX FOR CARRYING YOUNGSTERS FROM BROODER HOUSE TO COLONY
HOUSE.]
[Illustration: CATCHING HOOK]
PRESS OF
THE VAIL-BALLOU CO.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y.
Transcriber’s Notes
Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation have been retained.
Depending on the hard- and software used to read this text and on
their settings, not all elements may display as intended.
Page 194: in the source document, the section headers (“Single Comb
White Leghorns Only” and “It’s “Strain” You Want”) are printed in the
middle of the text paragraph.
Changes made:
Illustrations and tables have been moved out of text paragraphs.
Some minor obvious typographical errors and missing punctuation have
been corrected silently. Dimensions have been standardised to m × n.
Page 9, Table of Contents: the entry “Buildings on the Corning Egg
Farm and Many Handy Devices” has been added.
Page 10-13: illustration numbers were added.
Page 147: the addenda slip has been inserted at the end of the page.