CHAPTER VIII 



Practical Incubator Houses 



Where Several Incubators Are Operated Better Results Will Be Secured and Time Saved by Providing a Special Build- 

 ing for Them Plans Are Here Given for a Moderate-Cost Basement Incubator House With Especial 

 Provision for Adequate Ventilation Plans for Low Cost Above-Ground Incubator 

 Building, Also a Combination Incubator Cellar and Brooder House. 



HE location of the incubator has much to do with 

 its successful operation. Some persons are able 

 to get good results with incubators installed in 

 living rooms and in other locations that are far 

 from ideal, but at best they do it in spite of the location 

 and not on account of it. 



Wherever it is at all possible to do so, the incubator 

 should be operated in a cellar, basement, or specially con- 

 structed incubator house, such as is illustrated in the fol- 

 lowing pages. This is desirable, not 

 only to secure a more uniform tem- 

 perature than is possible in any 

 above-ground building or room, un- 

 less very expensively constructed, but 

 because such a room provides more 

 natural and uniform humidity, and is 

 cooler in summer. All practical incu- 

 bator operators know that it is par- 

 ticularly ^hard to get good hatches in 

 warm rooms, due chiefly to the dif- 

 ficulty of securing proper ventilation 

 under such conditions. 



For one or two machines, the house 

 cellar may be satisfactory, but when 



three or more are to be operated it often is difficult to 

 secure proper ventilation without interfering with the 

 other uses to which such a cellar must be put. Where 

 chicks are to be hatched in large numbers, therefore, it 



f desirable to have a special incubator cellar. 

 The house shown in Figs. 153, 154, 155 and 156 will 

 accommodate ten large-sized lamp-heated machines, but 

 can be reduced or enlarged to suit individual require- 

 ments. The floor plan with work-room (see Fig. 157) 

 will accommodate eight machines and is especially recom- 

 mended as being convenient and practical, and well 

 worth the additional cost. 



The outside dimensions of this house are 13 feet 10 

 inches in width by 26 feet 4 inches in length. This makes 

 the inside dimensions of the chamber 12 feet 6 inches by 

 25 feet, in the clear. The ceiling is 9 feet 4 inches high. 

 If a smaller house is desired the dimensions may be 



changed to suit. For example, a house without vestibule, 

 to hold six large-sized incubators, should be 12 feet 6 

 inches wide by 15 feet long, in the clear. 



In building, remember that the forms for a five-foot 

 concrete wall require heavy bracing. An eight-inch wall 

 is provided in the plan (see cross section, Fig. 153), but 

 a six-inch wall is sufficiently heavy. Whatever the width 

 of the wall, it is desirable to have the bottom extended for 

 footing, as shown in Fig. 155. If soft spots are found in 



'-r^J-Jj- 1 i 1 i JhinaJe*, Of 



Burlap ^f-<y/7>es ffr ft-ant Of Wmdo*J$ Hot Sho 



rced Deceit -Door- l/entil.rorSlidr P&rt/yOf>rtt. 



FIG. 153 CROSS SECTION OF INCUBATOR 



FIG. 154 SIDE ELEVATION OF INCUBATOR 



the ground at this depth, which is not probable, the exca- 

 vation at these points must be carried down to solid 

 ground to prevent cracking and settling of the walls. The 

 side walls at the steps may be four to six inches thick, 

 and the steps should be solid. 



The frame of this house is to be of 2x6-inch timbers, 

 with the sills anchored to the foundation wall. The walls 

 above the ground are to be double-boarded with heavy 

 sheathing paper nailed to each side of the studs and the 

 boards laid over this. The ceiling of the room should 

 also have an insulating covering of sheathing paper tacked 

 to the lower face of the joists before the boards are 

 nailed on. 



Note that burlap frames are to be provided outside 

 of all windows, screening the windows from the sun and 

 preventing direct air currents when the windows are open. 

 In warm weather or when the wind is not blowing, the 

 burlap screens may be opened outward admitting more 

 air, but still screening the windows from direct sunlight 

 which, if unobstructed, is liable to raise the room temper- 

 ature several degrees in a short time, and interfere with 

 the regulation of the machines. A shingle roof is recom- 

 mended for this building as shingles give a more even 

 temperature than prepared roofing. Both gables should 

 have louvered ventilators, as shown. 



Fig. 153 shows a cross section of the house without 

 incubatois. As regularly planned it is to be built three feet 

 in the ground, and banked up two feet, which calls for a 

 five foot concrete wall, the balance of the side walls being 

 of frame construction. The ceiling is carried up into the 

 gable to give ample height in the incubator room, a more 

 important feature than many realize. The cross section 

 shows the installation of the special ventilator flues, which 

 insure poor air in the room under all conditions. These 

 fliies may be of galvanized iron, sewer tile or any other 

 available material that is suitable for the purpose. In 



HOUSE 



