Morris tribune., 1899-09-09
LARGE STOCKS.
Failure Frequently Due to Their Sweeping
OFF by vermin and Disease.

l
Failure in keeping large focks o.
poultry results frequently because yer
min and disease sweep off the mem.
bers and thereby discourage all at
+empts to continue with large mum
| Der. With flock of ten or twenty
hens the poultryman has an opportun-
| ity of giving daily attention, and II
| anything goes wrong it is quickly no
| ticed; but when large focks are kept
the matter of having them always in
proper condition becomes difficult.
Either the entire time of the poultry
man must be bestowed or the flock
must be reduced. In order to give all
his attention the number of ehns kept
must be sufficient to remunerate him
for his labor If this is not done there
will be no profit. If the number is too
small the labor will be too large all
item, and failure will be the result. 1t
is on this point that majority of fail
ures occur. 1t may be safely stated
that 500 hens will not support mod
crate family, but there are few per-
sons who keep more than that number.
Like any other occupation, the ex-
pense must be taken out, and whether
the expenses are too great or not de-
ponds upon the operations. AS one
man can attend to 1000 hens nearly
as well as he can 500, it is plain that
the smaller the flock the greater the
proportionate expense. Many make the
mistake of endeavoring to keep too
many fowls together, thus inviting
disease, and more frequently lice.
When lice make their appearance In a
large flock of several hundred it IS
usually an end of the enterprise, as the
labor is at once doubled. By beginning
with clean premises, and cleaning
them daily, as is done with stables,
much difficulty may be avoided Large
flocks may be kept as easily as small
ones, provided they are divided into
families and unceasing vigilance and
attention bestowed.
A hen should never be given more
eggs than her naked body will come in
contact with. Hence the smaller the
ben the fewer the eggs she should have.
If the weather is cold, and too many |
eggs are given her, the frequent chang
ing of their positions will cause the |
whole lot to be alternately chilled, and |
the number of chicks Matched will be !
larger from small number Of eggs |
than from a full sitting. If the wealth
er is moderate, the nest in warm |
place, and the hen is in good condition,
the prospect for hatch will, of course,
be more favorable, but it is best not |
to rely on large number of eggs in a
nest Give according to the size of the
sitter.
Most of the experienced poultrymen
that each hen will afford
profit of 81 a year This may seem
small to some, but it means after the
interest on the capital, food, and other
,ast expenses are paid. 1t is really a
arge profit, as most hens are not val
With flock of thirty hens it repre-
;ents the interest of $500 at six per
;ent. When we take into considera-
ion the fact that on most farms the
.ctual capital invested in poultry is
cry small, the profit from the hens is
sually quite large. The sick fowls, or
hose that do not lay, reduce the aver
ge for all the members of the flock.
1t has been claimed that incubator
atched chicks are inferior to those
atched and raised in the natural man
er under hens, and that they are not
uitable for breeding purposes. Such
Imposition is mistaken one. There
annot possibly be any difference. If
chick is Matched, it comes into the
rorld fully endowed by nature to
it's existence no matter what ,
he method of patching may be. But
fter it is Matched everything depends
pom the care. Some incubator chicks
re superior to those Matched under
ems, as also the reverse. They are, :
hen matured, equal to those not ;
atched in incubators as breeders, in {
very respect. =
Laying hens are heavy drinkers The
lpply of fresh, pure water should be :
entiful. 50 :