Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-01-07
WHY PULLETS ARE
NOT NOW LAYING

closely related to that bird Of the
golden egg. A flock of such fowls
would make the owners heart light
and his purse heavy in the October
and November days.
That's all very fine" grumbles
the farmer, "but when you get down
to facts there's nothing doing among
the flocks in the October and Novem-
ber days"
Very true. 1t requires judicious
outlay, study and work, seasoned
with that infinite pains" which is
the earmark of genius, to produce
eggs in quantity during the off sea-
son of egg production, and these
things the majority of poultry keep
ers are not going to bestow on so
insignificant creature as chicken.
So there will always be nothing do
ing" in the majority of flocks at this
season, and incidentally there will
always be a golden harvest to be
reaped by the small minority OF
farmers and other poultry keepers
who realize that money and effort
are not thrown away in the breeding
and care of fowls.
But" says another farmer, II
put a good bit Of money in chicks
last spring and they have had a
whole lot of care, and have got
away with lot of high-priced feed;
some of 'em are more than 6 months
old, and nary an egg or prospect OF
one in sight"
We happen to be familiar with
this case, and it is typical of many
others. Some 200 day-old chicks of
uncertain Leghorn stock and OF diff
ferent ages were bought; part were
placed with hens, fifty or so to hen,
and part were brooded in boxes. All
were kept in an inclosure where
there were a number Of old fowls.
An epidemic of vermin broke out
two or three times and was subdued
by whitewash and insect powder,
but was not eradicated by persistent
after treatment. Though the feed
ing. together with the general care,
was not always regular or of the best,
1t was so much better than had ever
before been given on that farm to
chickens that naturally much was ex-
pected in return.
At present there is quite bunch
of pullets and some cockerels run.
ming and roosting all together
though of different ages and sizes
and few among them are very fail
birds; but none of them have had the
steady and vigorous growth neces
sary to the production of the October
and November layers. At the best
1t will be along in January and Feb
ruary before there will be regular
: laying for even the most forward o
the lot.
The gilt-edged egg is not secured
without effort plus knowledge o
the right methods. Had our farme
in the above case put the same
amount OF money in fewer and bet
ter chicks. had he brooded then
properly, fed them we'll and regular
ly, kept them free from insects, ant
yarded them according to age ant
vigor; In short, kept them growin
every minute Of their chickhood
they would now be returning him
nice profit on his investment an
work instead of being a dead expens
till the price of eggs begins to dro
r toward spring.
No weakly or stunted pullets, no
@. even an organically strong one whic
d has not had regular and systemati
0 feeding and care from the egg up,
@ going to lay in October and Noven
g ber II eggs were easy OF productio
@ during this time It would not be th
l. season OF maximum prices. As wit
J. everything else in price, to get th
0 best results from poultry we mus
H give II our best efforts.
n The pullets for fall and wlntC
+ laying should, not be allowed wit
n the general flock or with fowls
" different age. Those to begin layin
o the last of September should be SCI
q arated. In bunches OF twenty-five {
| thereabouts, in August and yardC
q in comfortable quarters. Any chanl
7 must be made considerable time b
, fore the pullets begin to lay; Il
2 though they are not greatly affect,
by such things in the natural layir
season. even a change OF roostir
20 quarters in the fall and winter W
a, often check laying for weeks. II
w writer once moved flock of pulle
:. "a Just starting to lay TO a ranch sew
-. miles distant on the 10th OF 0ctobt
g They were moved at night and wi