The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-29
Ghe 6arulrr.
a HENNERY

The Chanbersburg, Pa, Public Opinion,
Of recent date, gives the following de-
s.ription of J. Calvin Hoffeditz's hennery,
near Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa.
1t says:
Mr.. Hofeditz is largely engaged in rais-
ing chickens and producing eggs, which
find ready market in New York and
Philadelphia. His proximity to the juno
tfon, which is also a station, affords him
unusual conveniences for shipping his eggs
and poultry To give the reader an idea
Of the proportions Of his trade, we shall
present few statistics. During the last
year, ending in the present month, he
shipped nearly l, 100 fine fat chickens to
the eastern markets. These chickens would
average about 5 lbs. each, thus making In
the aggregate $500 lbs, or three tons at
least. as the estimate is rather under than
above the exact weight. The average
price received was eighteen cents per pound,
During the same year Mr., Hoffeditz
sent in addition, chiefly to Philadelphia,
/ $50 dozen eggs, for which he received
s433. 81. This number does not by any
means include the entire egg production Of
the hennery, because he sold at least 90
dozen to his neighboTs, in addition to those
consumed in his own family. Mr.. Hoffe-
ditz's hens therefore, furnished him, at the
lowest estimate, $4,000 eggs. As these
eggs are of large size, dozen weighing
one pound and ten ounces, the whole
weight of eggs reaches the large figure of
Z. $50 pounds-over ton and half of
eggs.
Mr.. H. usually keeps from 500 to 200
hens over winter. From this number he
gets many dozens of eggs, for which he
receives large prices in the eastern cities.
In the month of January his daily average
of eggs was 20 dozen. In February he
gathered about % dozen daily. For these
eggs he got 30 cents dozen, net price.
He begins to set his hens early in the
season, 50 as to have early pullets for the
fall and winter supply of eggs.
He rarely keeps bis hens longer than
one year, because he always gets more
eggs the first year. His hens do not lay
nearly as many eggs during the second
year as they produce during the first. BY
this mode he is always enabled to send
superior young hens to market, which
bring more satisfactory returns than older
and tougher fowls. He keeps compare
lively few BOOSTERS over winter, about one
to twelve or fifteen pulIets His Matching
house is a large she'd, formerly used as
stable. but with the stalls and managers re-
moved. The interior is temporarily divid-
ed into compartments by movable lath par
titions. These divisions contain the nests,
which are small, close boxes, with hanging
doors, each one only large enough to. con
tain one hen, who Is securely fastened n
her box during her incubation. and Is fully
protected from al outside intrusions. Es-
ery day their boxes are opened, and they
are permitted to leave their nests in order
% receive their food aud water They are
not. all fed together. but about one third
are let ouf at one time. This plan prevents
confusion and secures good order and quiet
in the she'd The batching house contains
about 100 Matching boxes, and 50 Of these
were occupied BY patient biddies on the day
we visited the establishment Mr. Hoife-
ditz raises his young chickens BIZ two meth
DDS. Some IL them he leaves with their
mothers: while other bnpods are removed a
soon as they are Matched and placed in
abrooder. This Is simply neatly made
coop. with doors and partitions, the sides
partly formed Of glass and wire netting, and
warmed By iron pipes through which steam
is passed. The steam is generated by kerr
esene lamps, which are kept constantly
burning, and which supply > necessary
amount Of heat
The tender chicks az once seem to I'M
slerstand this artificial mother. and crowd
aroand and under the pipes, when cold. a.
the other broods are wont TO do under the
wings of the hens. Mr.. Hofeditz has not
ven deterninSd which is the better plan Of
rearing the Young chickens. By leaving
them with their mothers or removing them
to the bfooders. OF these latter, he has
three in constant use, during the breeding
season. At the present time there are
about 500 Young chickens on the farm.
Twice this number has been Matched; but.
about one-half Of all that come out of the
eQrs die before they are half-grown. This
large morfality. : usually caused b ntes-
tinai diseases. Ten large movable two
storied eoops serve Is the roasting places
and resoEts Of the chickens in rough wealth
err. The feeding troughs are also arranged
in the lower story Of these; while the laying
compartments are formed at the ends Of
the second floor.
Mr. HofFedifz began to kill his poultry
for market IN the month Of March. The
process Of preparation for packing Is some
what peculiar. The chickens, in punches
Of half dozen each, are hung up By the
feet IN suitable frame Their mouths are
then opened and en- ineision is made with
a small sharp knife blade across the roof Of
the mouth, IN which locality the blood yes
sels lie specifically and are easily severed.
The blood flows freely, and the birds soon
die with comparative freedom from pain.
They are then dipped into a kettle Of boil
ing water and the feathers are neatly re-
moved. Their legs and wings are COM
pressed closely to their bodies, and they are
packed in rows on boards to cool. and then
look almost like balls Of appetizing fat
fowls. Their heads. are not removed, nor
are their entrails drawn, a. eastern epicures
prefer to buy them without the loss Of
either. To conduct an enterprise ike that
in which Mr.. Hofeditz j. engaged, requires
considerable skill aud knowledge Of poultry.
An experience Of twelve years has amply
provided Mr. II with these qualifications
Mr.. HoiTessisz raises none but white fowls
He has ekperi1neute,l with al the fashion
able and popular breeds, but has not found
in any one of them the qualities he re-
quires. He was, therefore, obliged to e.
tablish breed by judicious crossing. This
desideratum he has now secured by mixing
the light Brahmas and The white Leghorns,
IN various degrees The result Of this
crossing is fowls in all respects superior 10
either Of the pure breeds.
Water FOR SMALL FRuITs. Nv here
water can be commanded, there Is nothing
50 profitable as to well soak the soil about
small fruits first about the time they have