The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-17

most serious drawback is their size
The average hen of the scrub
stock weighs from three to five
pounds. and the reader can easily
see that they are wholly incapable
Of producing chicks that will weigh
from one to two pounds at from sis
to eight weeks OF age, and this they
must do in order to make broilel
raising profltabie.
One of the pure breeds best adapt
ed to broiler raising is the Orping
ton. Although practically new
breed in this country they are adj
mirably fitted to fill all requirements
OF the broiler trade. Adult males
average 10 pounds. hens pounds
cockerels pounds and pullets IL
pounds. With this large breed for a
foundation stock it is an easy matter
to produce broilers of the required
weight in the short time required.
Where a farmer has means at his
command it is an easy matter t.
build a suitable poultry house, but
fortunately for those who must STAR
with limited means. "Biddy" is not
particular as to outward appearances
and provided certain requirements OF
nature are compiled with, will reward
her owners just as generously in
more humble tarters
The most cess initial OF these re-
quirements are the three most Inn
portant factors in the poultry bust
ness; Light. warmth and ventilation
Damp roosting quarters are one OF
the worst conditions for poultry They
produce foul and disagreeahle odors
and promote diseases, which il not
fatal to the flock viii impair their
vitality.
For want of better quarters a
building constructed after the fash
ion of log house will do, and il
chinked with plaster and the floor
covered to a depth of from six to ten
inches with straw, the house will be
so snug and warm that drinking
water viii hardly freeze in the cold
est weather. And if other conditions
are right the farmer should have a
generous supply of eggs all winter
The old style way Of allowing fowls
to roost in trees and on fences will
greatly interfere with the egg bask
ct. Nothing could be done that
would contract colds, roup and etc.
more rapidly than this exposure and
the farmer who allows his fowls to
do so will not he put to much trou-
BILE of gathering his eggs during the
winter months.
Need Plenty of Room.
Another main item to be consider
ed is that large numbers of fowls
should not be kept in one small house
or pen. The colony house plan has
proven to be the best and all up TO
date farmers are adopting it. The
system consists in having numerous
inexpensive houses scattered over the
farm Few rods apart, and building
them on skids so that they can be
easily moved. Houses of this style
should be about 10x12 feet In size
and about seven feet high in front
with the shed sloping to the rear.
they should be built on skids or
runners which can he moved with
the aid of horse to fresh ground
occasionally. Again fowls can be
raised In the orchard alone and will
increase the yield OF fruit by ferti-
lizing the soil and destroying injuri-
Gus bugs and worms which infest it
and for this reason the egg farmer
will always And 1t advisable to com
bine fruit growing In a small way
with the poultry business.
Next week ! will endeavor TO ex-
plain how poultry plant can be
built up from small beginning as
well as timely topics for the month.