The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-11-30
WINTER CHICKENS.
"eoree Ill. Pollard Tells How They
Do 1t In Massachusetts

massachusetts,, just away from Boston
anu near to staid old bingham, there
y ana mas been for several years a
nethod III operation which reverses all
the OLD time ideas of the chicken bnsi.
ness and which solves the Question NJ
Dig sort meated chickens and big, fat
prolltS at one and the same time, To
Sccoillplsh these results nearly all tha
accepted rules Of procedure are set
IopSy turvy, and the many changes of
| the Ola order of things may prove most
| distressing TO those who have absolute
iaith in the old methods. The batch-
| ing is all done in the late fall and win
yer. Inc Incubators are generally first
nlled III October, and from that time
uhtlI enough are Matched to fill the
room for them there is a continuous
Outflow of chickens. The first eggs
USED are those from Light Brabmas
winch are the acknowledged best breed
lof THIS purpose. This is so from their
large frame and size and the fact that
the bones and flesh keep tender and
SOFT longer than other breeds and they
are quick and profitable growers.
10 get the best results the best birds
from the strictly fancier point of
view are not used. Too constant and
long breeding f0r showroom points
often spoils the color of the legs and
skin and may weaken the vigor and
vitality Of the stock What the prac-
ucal marketman wants first is form or
shane and e
ana 1t Is question whether the color
OF the skin is not equally important as
shape. Next after the Light Brahmas
is used cross between Light Brahmas
ana Barred Plymouth Rocks, and this
season there is decided trend of opfn-
ION In favor of this cross as offsetting
the too close breeding which has been
resorted to in fixing the featherins of
the standard Light Brahmas The
eggs nave proved more fertile, and the
chickens have been stronger and more
sturdy.
Among the most successful producers
of this region are the Farrar brothers,
who hatch and market from 5000 to
1900 chickens per year. They buy their
eggs and consider an average of one
third as many chickens as there are
eggs put into the machine a satisfac-
tory hatch. The chickens are accom-
modated in one piped brooder building
of 100 feet and one building 200 by 10
feet, equipped with lamp breeders. They
have good success with both buildings
and systems They expect about two
thirds Of the number hatched to live
to market age. They use the regular
progression of Light Brahmas, Light
Brahma and Plymouth Rock cross and
later Plymouth Rocks. AS soon as the
pullets arrive at the best age and con,
dition they are marketed AS they
mature they are killed When the
cockerels are about months old,
they are caponized This practice is
universal in this district. The cockerels
are not marketed as capOns, but simply
as soft chickens. The gain through
this practice comes from the greater
quiet of the birds and the doing away
with the natural pugnacity which rem
ders pen of cOckerels in their natural
state a very bedlam of pickering and
quarreling.
In houses by feet the Farrars
keep through the winter as many as
80 birds in each These houses are
about 6 feet high at the front, have
one window, are shingled and have
gravel floors with no perches. The
wonder is how 30 birds, weighing from
seven to nine pounds. can be wintered
in a by s house without an epidemic
of sickness and death. Mr.. Farrar
says they are not troubled with sick
ness, and the facts that they have the
best of market stock and continue sea
son after season in the same way are
ample proof that he tells the truth
A new house 100 by 10 feet has just
been finished and will be stocked with
laying pullets. One of the Farrar
brothers, who left a steady position
where he received a good salary, says
that in eight months time spent with
his chickens he can make more money
than he was paid in a year and be
more independent They estimate that
they clear at least so to go cents per
head on the average bird in average
seasons. This they believe to be the
lowest figure consistent with fair con-
ditions.-George FL. Pollard in Relia-
In11rnol