CHAPTER XXXIII. A Word in Closing

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.

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.]

Equipped with Hovers, giving capacity for 12,000 Chicks at one time.]

Showing hot water pipes underneath, and hinged runway, with drawing of entrance gate from alley to Hover pen.]

Showing details of construction.]

Where building is over 16 feet in width, floor beams are 2″ x 12″.]

146 feet by 22 feet, with a capacity for 15,600 eggs at a setting, and space to double the number.]

With capacity for sprouting 100 bushels of oats at a time.]

Also giving access by inside stairway to Brooder House.]

Opening into Sprouted Oats Cellar, and by stairway up to Brooder 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.]

Showing the draught-proof roosting closets, and arrangement of nests, drinking fountains, etc.]

Showing method of raising perches while cleaning dropping board.]

Opening being placed at back of dropping boards. See Cross Section of House on opposite page.]

Showing outside half wire door and solid interior door with observation window.]

Showing full details of construction. Used in Laying House.]

The Cotton Duck Windows when hooked up forming awnings.]

Showing skids, and brace construction. Also Storm Trench.]

Showing Handy Button Fastener.]

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.