The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-11-15
Important Features of Poultry Work
Ill l. Blanchard

h. IL. Blancndru)
The flocks of laying hens and pull
let's. also the pullets that are not lay
ing. should be receiving special at
tention at this time. No doubt many
of them, and very likely nearly all OF
those comprising the average fiocks
are debating whether or not they vii
enter upon their duties as egg pro
ducers or take another two months
rest before doing so. Their physica
condition will have much to do WIFI
their decision The hens are JUS
about getting over their mOult and nc
doubt many of the pullets are the
same. If they have been neglected
during the past two months their de
cision will be against goirg on dut!
until their systems have had time &c
recuperate from the strain eXacted By
the growth of new set of plumage
On the contrary, if during the las
two months they have been well carec
for and the demands of their system
in the matters of care and feed nave
been fully met then further RESI-
is not expected nor desired. The func
tions of a hen are to produce eggs
and when the attendant does his part
the hen will do hers.
These things appear to be lost slght
of by the average person with q HOOK
of hens. The writer often hears peo
pie talk as though their failure to sue
coed with their poultry lay in the oil
rection of insufficient and improper
buildings. While such may sometimes
be the case, it is not often so. we
have known people who, believing
that there was something in poultry
would, after deciding to embark In
the business, do SO in this way:
They would first visit a successful
poultry plant and secure data for the
construction of the required buildings
They then often would use good judg
ment in stocking up with good laying
strains of some breed or breeds. The
final results in many cases nave
proven to be ignominious failures
They had failed to grasp true under
standing as to the secrets OF success
with poultry, or found themselves tC
be incapable when attempting to apply
themselves to the work. In other
words the undertaking was beyond
their comprehension
This goes to illustrate that some
thing besides buildings is indispens
able to success in the work. In fact
the chief things that recommend the
modern up-to-date poultry houses are
the pleasurable and labor saving fea-
lures. So when it becomes necessary
to build a poultry house the person
who fails to consult some of the modern
plans for such buildings makes a ser
ious mistake The reason is that the
majority of such plars are such that
the details of the work, (and the en-
tire business is one of detaiD, are all
within the reach of the attendant
which is very important. Thus it is
that the great bugbear to the business
vermin, are successfully combatted
The fowls are necessarily comfortable
and the labor of their care is reduced
to the minimum Then to the person
who has become discouraged we would
say, try again. If you have the con
veniences to work with, then study
we'll the other features of the work
Learn how to properly care for the
flock Remember that the right care
is conducive to good health and STAN
ina, which is the foundation upon
which the profitable flock always
stands. Then feed right; it costs
no more than to feed wrong. Treat
the work as a part at least of your
business.