Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-13

Hew to Get the Largest Re.
tuena from Your Land.
Profitable Poultry Culture.

In poultry raising, as in any other
undertaking. to make it profitable a
nerson must have some certain aim in
view and strive towards that end.
Industry and perseverance are the
two qualities which count the heaviest
toward successful poultry keeping. A
Great many failures are due to the fact
that a fellow looking for a soft snap
goes into the poultry business. He
b,,ilds houses, lays out yards, buys
incuba tors, then expects the hens to do
the rest. He fails, Of course.
There are two distinct branches con-
sidered by most people in the poultry
husiness-farcy and utility. OF course,
oil fanciers contend they combine both
fancy and utility, but sometimes, in
irving to revelop the fancy side, they
lose sight of the utility.
The American hen alone has pro-
auced 15,525, 5000 eggs; value, $144.-
oss15s; and the total amount of poultry
industry was $2S1 49, 35. There figures
refer to the farm chickens and eggs.
Now, farmers, what are you going to
do9 Are you raising cattle? Do you
mix them, part Jersey, some Hereford,
a little Angus? Are your hogs a mix
ture of Poland China, Chester White,
puroc Jersey. etc?
That is the way n great many mix
chickens.
No. indeed the cattle, hogs, and
horses must be thoroughbred, or at
least high grade. but the poultry. they
are lust chickens, turkeys, ducks, and
eeese-a little of everything, but no.
thing in particular.
Many farmers admire pure bred
fowls, but cannot change their flocks at
once. Some advocate and do use pure
bred fowls each year and are getting
in shane for some fine flocks. But the
best way, think, is to get. say 80 or 100
eggs OF some good variety, selecting
the ones best suited for your particu-
lar aim. The Wyandottes and
Plymouth Rocks are often called the
general purpose fowls. because they
combine both size and laying qualities.
After starting in some thoroughbred
or high grade stock begin to figure
where the most profit is coming from
Most people depend on the egg produc-
ton. Nearly all hens lay during the
spring and summer months, but few
farmers get eggs through the winter
months, when eggs are 20 or % cents
per dozen.
If you expect eggs in winter you
must make it springtime all the veal
round, and the first requisite would bt
good quarters. An old building might
be fixed up warm and comfortable, bu
l will give details of a new building.
A house to accommodate about 10(
hens would need to contain about SOC
feet floor space, the best proportion be-
ing about 10 by so. The cheapest and
best house is made with a shed roof
with walls four feet high in rear and
feet front. Make this all of boards anG
cover with tar paper. Coat it twice
with tar the first year. and once each
year after. and it. will be alright fol
ten years. Our best house is made
mostly of cottonwood lumber, covered
with Red Rope roofing. at a little more
cost, but more substantial and warmel
than tar paper. A house built in thi!
way will need no plastering or artificial
heat. -
Put three of our good sized windows
along the front and a door In each end
This house will.not cost over $50 O.
SEQ. and the henSswill pay for it thu
first winter.
Next is feeding for eggs. Here, then
are presented toggou several PROPOSE
TONS The ration must be balanced