Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-10-23
POULTRY FARMS
How to Make Small Plants Profitable.


In it's crop report for August, re
Gently issued, the Massachusetts Stat
Board of Agriculture includes an ar
ticle on 1.-The Management of Poultr,
on Small Farms" by John II. Robin
son, editor OF Farm Poultry. This re
port may be obtained by applying ts
j. Lewis Ellsworth, Secretary of the
Board, State House, Boston, and those
wishing to receive these bulletins reg
, ularly may heve their names placed or
the mailing list for that purpose.
In this article Mr.. Robinson says
"A large farm offers the beat opportu
nifty to keep poultry with little labor
land comparatively large profits, but
the owner of the large farm is not often
much interested In poultry. 1t lie the
small farmers, under the necessity of
making the most Of every opportunity
to make money on their land, who are
attracted by the possibilities of poultry
culture.
"a very large proportion Of the small
New England farms are of such jimen-
sions and proportions that the fowls
cannot be given range. Because of
this, many small farmers interested in
poultry have adopted the intensive
methods which small poultry keepers
in towns often fad necessary, but
which large poultry keepers and farm
ers ought to avoid. Intensive methods
make the care of poultry a grind and
drudgery SO that the poultry keepers
time is almost fully occupie in car
ing for few fowls. Many farmers
who follow the intensive system and
find it profitable for time have neg
lected other lines of farm work, while
others, unwilling to do this. have re-
|luctantly given up their intention of
increasing their stock of fowls.
1.-The best solution of the problem of
the small farmer who wants to keep a
few hundred hens. and still give most
Of his time to other things, will be
found in the adoption of methods in
termediate between the intensive meth
DDS of the town poultry keeper and the
free and easy methods that work well
on large farms"
Mr.. Robinson then goes on to say
that for more than decade the inter.
est of poultry keepers has been almost
monopolized by intensive methods,
which are necessary to secure high
average of egg production. These large
egg yields are often secured at such
cost OF care and food that the actual
profit per fowl figures small. By the
colony system the owner of large
farm will distribute his fowls over the |
farm, and, giving them room and range, !
relieve himself of the necessity Of do
ing for them many Of the things which
the intensive poultry keeper must do |
daily. Then follows an extended illus
tration of the difference between the |
two methods particularly as relates to
supplying green food, meat food and |
exercise.
What we are seeking" said Mr. |
Robinson, "is a method by which the
farmer can keep as much poultry as
possible, without giving If the detail
ed attention that must be given when
the land occupied is stocked to the
limit. The problem is neither deep
nor difficult one. As the farmer who
cannot give his poultry range must
have yards, the obvious thing for him
to do is to lay out his yards, according
to the size of his flocks, limit the total
of fowl kept to the capacity of the
yards, make houses:o of such dimensions
as are REQUIRED, and place them singly
OF in pairs where they can be most
readily reached in making the rounds
Of the place."
He then gives details ass to the size
Of houses and yards required under
this method. and points out that the
expense of fencing is limited to the in
creased cost for the end fences, no
more fencing being required for the
division and side fences than a con-
tinuous connecting house with harrow
yards is used. He further explains the
best methods Of regulating the work of
feeding, watering. &C., so that fowls
may be kept in good condition and the
greater part of the day still left free for
regular farm work.
In closing Mr.. Robinson says: ''Poul-
try keeping ought to be an important
feature on every farm, and also pleas
ant feature of farm work. 1t may be
made so if the farms will only study to
adapt his stock and his methods to
the capacity of the farm, under condl-
tions satisfactory to him. '-Boston
Tro pao ripf