Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-15
GREATEST POULTRY RANCH.

Think OF a farm of 200 acres devoted
exclusively to poultry! A writer In the
Chicago Record Herald tells about H.
The owner Of this novel but very sue
cessful ranch once had an idea that
there was no profit In any live stock
smaller than COW, He was a farmer
and Ike the majority Of his kind dis
dained the humble hen that cackled on
sang as her mood demanded This
farmer had a good head fun OF Ideas
ana probably read In his agricultural
paper the advice. Don't neglect the
hen, breed for profit, conduct the busi-
ness on business principles, and Il VIII
be sally proved that no branch OF the
live stock industry will return greater
profits than poultry"
his novel egg and broier factory
Il about a hundred miles up the Hul-
son river, north OF New York City. The
proprietor, Henry Van Dresser several
years ago was a successful breeder Of
fhmthorn cattle. He saw big thing In
the nullet and her egg, adopted a
frlendless boy, whom he educated, aud
then formed a poultry partnership,
finally supplantlng his cattle with
pure-bred Leghorn hens, which as esq
producers are even mbte profitable tllan
his cattle were as milk and butter pro-
ducers. The cattle no longeg craze the
nils; every acre Of the land Is devoted
TO the production Of poultry and the
grain used for feeding
Mr Nsn Dreser's place Is known far
and Wide, and the public IS eager TO
learn Of the methods by'which they can
make }le0 ayday besides an annual in
come o. 5000 to $4,000 a year from he
10 ,f 10. N a
New York City. II takes cap'iai t1 do
this 70 begin with. the land was paid
for before he began to speculate on
poultry, and the amount now invested
In poultry buildings and accessories Is
something like $1,000. The flock con-
slsts Of nearly 1900 Leghorns for laying
and many extra fine specimens for
special breeding purposes. The feed Is
all grown ON the farm and about 5000
bushels of compost Is made from the
droppings every year, which goes back
to the land to fertllize II, which re-
suits IN wonderful crops
The first step was TO buy small in
cubator and 200 eggs from choice, pure
bred stock. Mr. Van Dreser's adopted
son WAS an enthusiast from the begin
ming and received substantial encour-
agement from his benefactor, The old
penthouse was cleaned and renovated
and the work was begun on a scientific
basis A flock OF single-comb White
Lsghorns Of q well known laying strain
was then purchased The growth of
the business was amazing and at the
end OF two years 1900 hens were win
tered, only one being lost from disease.
Special care In feeding Is the rule.
hens are fed for eggs Just the same as
the dairy COW Is fed for milk. AS an
egg Is about three-fourths water, great
care is taken TO keep pure water be-
fore them at all times and pure foods
are provided also, as continued feeding
OF green vegetables, such as onions and
rare. VIII cause the flavor of the egyJ
TO become impaired.
Every day the eggs are gathered,
stamped with the Van Dresser trade |
mark and shipped by express to New |
York TO one dealer, who handles the |
product Of this institution exclusively !
Last winter year ago Mr.. Van Dresser |
realized 40 cents a dozen; the retail |
price was 60 cents. a dozen and every |
egg was warranted TO be fresh.
All the young cockerels, except the |
high scoring specimens, are sold as |
brolers. last year about 5000 OF these |
were sold. The hlgh-scoring specimens
are sold to fanciers and farmers who |
must have good blood for their flocks |
at prices ranging frhn SO 10 $40 q head.
This, with the eggs for Matching sold |
at 10 cents each, increases the income |
$4,000 to $1,000 year. Mr. Van Ores
er has proved that bred hens can
be bred for heavy laying, He recently |
sold TO one Of the experiment stations |
30 hens each of which had made a rec
ord OF 200 eggs a year The average
Leghorn hen viii lay $50 eggs in a year.
How the hens are made 10 lay when
other hens are on a strike and the
eggs are high Is secret worth know
ing, For two weeks in August the hens |
are confined In pens and led only one
fourth of the fun ration. which reduces
their flesh. Then they are let out into
the sunshine and fed heavily the best
OF food In yariety-peas, oats, wheat.
corn and suntlOwer seed. This soon
loosens the old feathers and they drop
or to give room to the new plumage
Under this heavy feeding the birds get
in laying condition, and by the time
the aristocracy of the cities return
from the seashore eggs from the Van
Dresser farm are ready for market
This farm is an ideal place for
chickens. An orchard Of " acres is the
home Of the brooder houses. where the
little chicks are reared--an immense
nursery from which the older fowls are
excluded. More than $500 chicks may
be cared for at one time In this nur-
5ery. The main poultry building Is 1868
feet long, divided into % compartments
10 feet square, with cement floors.
Cleanliness is the watchword Of this
farm, and is the sole reason for the
lack Of disease among the nocks Of this
noval Institution