The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-01-04


market poultry. or both? The major
ity OF people want to raise fowls for
both eggs and market poultry, or eggs
and broilers or roosters. If we wish
to take up the business merely for the
profitable pleasure, then several Of the
more so-called fancy breeds can be
selected, but when dollars and cents
count then I would recommend only
one breed, or at most Two. Thorough
bred poultry, or first crosses, should
alone be used for the laying stock.
BY first crosses mean the progeny
from two different breeds Of thorough
breds. The pullets from this cross
may be selected for layers, but there
the crossing should stop. for it will
only result in disaster unless the per-
son making the selection perfectly
understands his business and has some
definite object in view. The crossing
Of two similar breeds such as the
Leghorn and Minorca will produce
nothing better than the parents. II
our object is eggs, and fair sized
body is also desired, then we can
cross Leghorn and Plymouth Rock
or Langshan. This will give us a
good sized body, a good layer, though
not quite as good as the Leghorn pure.
and rapid grower. II we desire a
fine broiler or rooster, then we should
mate an Indian Game cock on a
Wyandotte hen and will get just what
we want. Nothing will surpass this
cross for the purpose. The main gain
in crossing two breeds is. strong,
healthy offspring, but on the whole,
we do not recommend it, for eight
persons out Of ten who commence
crossing will end by making scrubs
out Of their fowls inside Of three
years.
When thoroughbreds are raised
properly they are hardy, and as we
have over hundred varieties to
choose from, it will be seen that we
can select and breed just what we
want in its pure state without resort
ing to crosses. OF course new blood
will have to be procured about every
second year, although by Judiciously
selecting the largest, earliest Matched
and strongest cockerels from a large
flock, we can fix desirable points and
yet sustain our strain. This should
never be practiced by the beginner, as
1t requires somewhat Of practice and
experience. 1t must be remembered
that the best laying breeds are not
the best market breeds, and vice
versa; therefore we should select with
our object in view.
The most poular breeds now used
especially for laying are the several
varieties Of Leghorns, Minorcas, and
Plymouth Rocks. Take things very
easy and commence with few
a nd learn how to make they lay win
ter and summer first. The rest will
follow in it's natural course. Start
with thoroughbreds; if you cannot af-
ford to buy a dozen buy pair or
trio. Commence right and buy the
best, then you will not have to in
few years go back and start all over
again, as many have had to do who
started with inferior or Indifferent
stock.
One hundred hens will make far
mer as much clear money during the
winter as five good cows, and it will
not take half as much to keep them as
will be required for the cows. This
does not mean that any farmer with
the required number Of any kind Of
old hens as generally found on most
farms will be able to do SO, but 1t he
has a good strain Of pure-bred chick
ems and gives them as much care as
he does his cows he can make the
profit above mentioned. The better
care he gives his f1ocA the greater will
be the returns.
OF course, know that every poultry
lover has his or her favorite breed.
Every breed has its own peculiar mer-
its and also its defects. In no breed.
I suppose, is combined all the good
qualities alike. But if one keeps Ply
mouth Rocks he should make It a
point to sell off during the fall, at the
Time Wucu Iu6y are dt SOO0 pAASCs
all the old hens, and this may usually
be done in September or October. 1t
very seldom pays to keep old Ply
mouth Rock hens and I suppose the
same could be said Of all the larger
breeds. Old Plymouth Rock hens will
lay but few eggs and instead Of turn
ing the food into eggs will almost in
variably turn in into fat. This quality
makes them one Of the finest market
fowls, but if you want to keep Ply
mouth Rocks and want to keep them
for eggs you must have young hens,
say from one to two years old. These,
If properly fed and sheltered, maN
splendid winter layers. Still. con-
tend that the Leghorn is by far the
best all-the-year-round layer. A Leg
horn under favorable conditions will
lay well when she is four, five, and
sometimes six years old. Hence the
Leghorn is a much cheaper hen, and
to the farmer, If he depends on eggs
for his profit, is by far the better of
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