Arizona republican., 1908-04-01
NATURAL HOME OF THE HEN.
Chicken Raising in the Salt River valIey-the Natural Home of the Hen.

tdncy-tne Ndturai riofnc ot tno Hen.
 A poet has said that where there is love all else is possible" or words to that effect Anyone. to succeed in the 1 chicken business should love chickens and the business of growing them. I love them and the raising of them and | being in the chicken business should | be able to tell how I do it, but not be- | ing a practised scribe my article may ! he bunglesome.
 i shal attempt to tell how I raise and hande chickens. not how the other man does il. There are two kinds of chicken growers. he who raises chick ems for the eggs or the egg farmer" and the fancier-he who raises | thoroughbreds depending upon the sale ' of eggs and chickens at fancy prices. The farmer. if he succeeds. must depend more upon great numbers of hens and also upon the selection of good laying breed and last, but not least. upon good care. Egg farming ! is the easiest of the two lines, and possible the safest and surest money maker.
 We Of the Aztec Poultry Farm. are in the fancy poultry business. which 1 is much the most difficult. since We must not only give our poultry extra good care but muct see that we have the best blood obtainable to start with and must not only keep up that high quality but must always be on the look out for ways to improve them. Herein, to me, is the attractive part of the business. In the selection of the best cock and the finest hens and the mating of them, the gathering of their beautiful eggs and the anticipation of what fine chicks they will bring forth. the setting of the eggs. the care of the cute little chicks and seeing them grow and develop into fine thorough breds. You who love fine horses and fine cattle do not think any more of your beautiful animals than We poul- trymen do our birds.
 It is not necessary that the fancier keep a great number of birds. but it is necessary that he keeps extra fine stock and that he advertise extensive ly which costs both time and money.
 But you ask. have you succeeded. are you making money? We answer no. We have not succeeded but We are
  onto our feet Last summer and fall during the moulting season our hens eggs more than paid for. their feed. they are laying more eggs now. We determined at starting into the busi- ness that our chickens should not cost us much to run them. Our chicken houses are nothing but large dry goods boxes. eighteen inches or two feet deep, turned with open side down with slat legs. roosts are nailed to Inside and one end or side is knocked out. thus leaving only three sides boarded up tight. Every week We move that house (dry good bOx) onto fresh ground and thoroughly spray with kerosene oil the roOsts and entire box. Our chickens have no lice. mites nor ticks and have plenty of fresh air and consequently are healthy.
 Our summer shade is four 2x4 set in the ground standing five feet high with poles across the top then brush and straw. Our feed is dry bran of every other day we give cut alfalfa or sour dock and wild mustard with bran mask and wheat in evening. burned bone. fine coal and a plenty of clean water is before them at all times and boiled meat (beef leg) twice week The result is that our hens eggs are virtually all fertile. Our little chicks get more of variety of food. Dry bran before them at all times. then alternately they have corn bread crumbs. ground wheat and mill lett seed. all they can eat
 As to the adaptability of this climate to poultry raising no country can equal it: unless there is some other sunny nook on earth having the same altitude. longitude and a like environ ment The Salt River valley is indeed and in truth the natural home of the hen.
 s. O.. STEWART.
 The Aztec Poultry Farm. Mesa. AriZ.. March 12, 1908.