The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-12
FARM AND
GARDEN
INTERESTS
summer Work on n Poultry Plant.

Summer Work on a Poultry Plant.
D. T. Root (Connersville) in Fancier's Ga
zette.
Thinking that perhaps your readers
might be interested in what we are doing.
I will give you an idea as to how we put
in our long summer days at the May R.
poultry plant. We have in the ~neighbor-
hood Of about 1900 little ones coming on,
and 1 would say right here that we never
before raised birds that would compare with
our this years hatch. We have them scat
tered over a large field of about fifteen
acres, and they are housed at night in small
colony houses Axe feet, each containing
about thirty. We open these about 5
o'clock in the morning. anc then they are
given their morning feed. This consists
of bran and corn meal mash with only
enough water TO make it the least bit damp.
We then go to the main houses and give
a similar feed to our old stock, of which
we nave left about 300 head. BY this time
we have a large, healthy appetite for
breakfast. After this is over we give them
plenty of fresh, cool water. 1 might re-
mark that we water them twice each day,
and the water Is kept in d cool, shady
place. One of the most important things is
good water and plenty of II. The next
move is to clean the roostins boards, for
we do this each morning. About three
times a week they are sprinkled with lime.
We find this to be one OF the best ways
to fight the lice, especially the red mites.
writer and stenographer have been getting
ready for our days work. The mail is
looked over, orders entered, etc. Our man
ager, Mr.. Thomas, is then called in and
together W. look over the letters and de-
eide how they shall be answered. when we
Will ship out any orders received, and also
decide on what shall be done that day.
etc. For the rest OF the morning the odds
and ends are taken UP, such as moving
weeds, repairing fences, painting roofs and
other work Of this kind. At 11:S0 the chicks
are given their noon feed of wheat and
cracked corn.
After dinner. our birds that we are get
ting ready for the fall and early winter
condition OF each bird noted, and If any
are under the weather they are removed
TO the hospital, which is in another build
ing. we tnen mix up our mash Tor the
next morning, except putting in the water.
Our pigeons, of which we have about 900,
are the next thing In order. We started
in with 100 pairs of these. They are all
bring the highest price in the Eastern
markets. These We have in the second
story of our main building. SOx15o feet. At
present we are not selling them, nor will
we until we have at least 1000 pairs of
breeding birds. Judging from the past.
when we get to this point we will have a
AANC ~ ASOAAAC VI SANN a rOAAN IAlU
sale OF squads alone. Looking after the
needs of these takes up about one hour.
After this until about 4:30 1t is odds and
ends again. Then we begin our evening
feeding of wheat for the chicks, oats for
the older ones and occasionally ground
beef scraps for all OF them. Later on we
will begin to add oil meal and sunhower
seeds Cor the older birds, especially those
that We are getting ready for the poultry
shows. This brings US to the evening and
after the little fellows are locked up we
consider our days work done, and are
glad enough to see the twilight gather and
nights curtain drawn.
/ would not feel right If I closed this
article without saying a few words of
praise about the white and barred rocks.
1t is admitted that they stand unrivaled
to-day as the most popular fowl. Other
birds are corners and will soon surpass
them, so many breeders say and have been
saying for years. It is strange, but for some
cause those others never quite reach that
point, but soon give way to another breed
of corners. So ii goes year after year,
but the grand old breed, like John Browns
spirit" goes marching on. Our experience
last year. in which we fattened about 800
capons of various breeds, shows us that
there is no breed that we are acquainted
with that fatten as quickly. and at the
same time has the size that the Eastern
buyers want. Whether for the breeder
of fancy fowls where can you find their
equal?