The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-16
RAISING CHICKENS IN SUMMER

RAISING CHICKENS IN SUMMER.
Does it pay TO hatch chicks after
the weather turns warm and tho prices
go down? This can only be answered
BY slookiog soser the prices offered
during previous years and estimating
the probable cost and loss One of
the obstacles in winter is that there is
quite q large loss of chicks due to
cold, . single case of neglect some,
times entsiling entire loss Of the
brood. In summer this difficulty is
not met with. Then, again, in winter
there must be more labor bestowed
and greater proportion of food al
lowed. The prices in the winter are
high because the chicks cost more
and are consequently scare and difficult
to procure.
In summer . good price IL paid for
large chicks. Last year roasting
chicks of about two and . half to
three pounds each sold at eighteen
cents pound ~ late ~ October, and
twenty cents is the usual price from
June TO October. This means that
chick of such weight, if of good quail
ty when dressed, will bring fifty
ocnts, or a dollar per pair. What the
cost may be depends upon circum.
stances. Under some conditions tho
food should cost almost nothing. II
graSs, seeds and insects are abundant,
and the chicks can have access 10 run
or field where they can assist them
selves after they are abandoned by the
hen that hatohed them, the cost will
at least be at n minimum. Expert
ments have demonstrated that the
food required to produce a pound
OF poultry meat should not ex-
ceed five cents. In the summer sea-
son three cents will cover the cost of
the increase of each pound in weight.
IL the chick reaches two and half
pounds weight the cost for food
should not exceed eight cents. Will
it not pay then TO expend eight cents
TO procure fifty cent?? Granting that
the chick may sell for only ten cents
a pound, there is still a large profit
IN proportion To food consumed.
Many farmers are frightened ut tho
low prices without considering the low
cost of food and the small amount OF
labor required, and they cease hatch.
ing chicks after warm weather sets in.
which is the very time they are in the
best condition for meeting success. IL
will be worthy of an experiment this
summer to hatch large number for
the market.
Corn will make the hens lay in tho
winter, but is detrimental to laying in
the summer. A small allowance of
corn may do no harm, but when the
very warm days come IL il too heat
ing. When hens are laying they arc
capable ofutilizing food for producing
eggs, but when on the range they have
no difficulty in securing all they de-
sire. When hens are confined in yards
and fed on large ration Of corn daily
and are also exposed to high degree OF
warmth, they are liable to die from
apoplexy or from overhoatin8 the
body. This il especially y the case with
large breeds that are in a very fat con-
dition. Corn possesses but very
small proportion of mineral sub
stances, and is too stimulating as o
summer food. II the hens are kept
in enclosures il is better to feed them
lean meat and ground bone once a
day, with n plentiful supply OF
chopped grass, especially Of clover,
rather than grain. A mess OF grain
may be given three times a week, but
such a meal should be light, ground
grain being excellent. Scatter whole
grains, however, no as to induce the
hens TO scratch. Mirror and Farmer.