The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-24
Possible Sell Hatchings, Make
Profit and Have Chickens
Too.
PURE BREEDS ARE BEST
Scrub Stock Doesn't Weigh as
Much and Costs More in
End.
BY {. p. MILLER.


Often the question is asked me
Which is the best eggs or stock to
start with p Now this is a question
that cannot be answered very easily
or satisfactorily without considerable
thought and investigation. Circum-
stances have a great deal TO do with
it
II the buyer has the means at hand
and is anxious TO enjoy the fowls AZ
soon as possible, why OF course moth
ing but the fowls will do in his oass-
He cannot wait to get start from
eggs as he Is impatient and desires
to see and care for his fowls.
But II Is by far the cheapest and
best way to buy eggs from some re-
liable breeder. In this way If you
have bought from his best pens you
stand the chance of securing some
extra fine birds; birds that you could
not buy from the breeder a. the cost
of five settings Then. too, one has
the chance to sell some of the extra
cockerels for more than double the
price paid for the setting.
AS to the breed. tastes differ. One
might fail in one and succeed with
another The best plan II eggs are
TO be used as the foundation TO
poultry plant Is to first get your set
ter In other words before you order
the eggs, be sure You have broody
hen that will be ready to take them
when they arrive. While the eggs are
on the way there is plenty of time
to prepare for them.
Time For Settings.
Do not set eggs for the purpose
OF rearing breeders before the middle
OF April for the larger breeds. and
the middle of May for the lighter
breeds Select a good sheltered cor
ner OF the poultry house. and IL pos
sible separate IL from the rest or the
nock with laths or poultry wire, The
nest can be made from an ordinary
soap box. lemon or orange box
will make two good ones. Lay the
box on one side and nail on a lath
or a thin narrow board to hold the
nesting material in. Put In each side
about two inches Of fresh earth hol-
lowed out in the center. Now care
| fully line this with soft straw or hay
and your nest is complete.
Examine each broody hen for mites
and lice and in case OF doubt dust
thoroughly with good lice powder.
Place the broody hen on the nest
| which has been previously fllea with
about half a dozen china, or even
boiled eggs which should be kept for
eggs let her remain on them until the
EGGS ordered arrive. then make the
change to the fresh ones.
Care OF Hens.
Keep a pan of fresh water before
her at all times as well as a pan OF
corn and wheat to which has been
added a hand full OF coarse grit. Feed
no soft and sloppy food TO broody
/ hen, especially when she is setting.
Be careful if You have several hens
setting at the same time, that all or
them do not leave the nest at the
Same time. They may mix up In q
| fight and broken eggs or at least
| chilled ones will be the result While
| the incubation In In progress make
| some outside coops for the hens ana
chickens to be used when Matching
day arrives. These are very inexpen-
sive and can be made by placing a
| barrel slightly in the ground and by
! fllfng the inside with earth until about
three inches above the surrounding
surface. Where the head has been
removeY nah Stats across TO retain
| the heQ when necessary.
| Boxes can best be utilized for the
purpose OF brood coops by covering
| them with tar paper or other rooSing
material 10 keep out the weather. The
| top should project over the front sew
eraI inches to keep out the driving
] rains.
Care OF Little Chicks.
/ Now we are to suppose that the
period of incubation has passed and
each hen has brought of a large brood
Of downy chicks and each has been
removed to its outside coop. For the
first twenty-four hours after Matching
! the chicks require no food whatever
Nature requires fully that time In
which they may digest the yolk of
the egg, which 10 tho last part absorb
1G~.ziNsa1d On SECOND PaEs5