The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-01-21
CULdNG GROWING FOWLS.

This is the season of the year when
poultrymen should begin to Gull their
hocks Of growing birds. June is the.
ideal month for broilers. Prices will
range high for the next eight weeks
and in order to take advantage of the
top Of the market poultrymen should
Gull closely and turn into money ev-
cry cockerel and low grade puilef
that they possibly can.
one of the greatest lessons to be
learned in the poultry business ls
that Of judicious culling. The man
or woman who can go over flock
OF young birds and select the pullets
that will not mature into profitable
layers has learned an important
point in successful poultry culture.
The trouble with the most OF us that
we lack the courage to Gull the way
we know it should be done. In every
flock of mixed males and females
from so to rs per cent. should be
marketed as broilers when they reach
the age of twelve weeks. The ave-
rage flock is about equally divided
between pullets and cockerels. Only
the most likely cockerels should be
retained. When it comes to the
pullets forget your sentiment and rid
yourself OF every one that is not UP
TO a certain standard Of size, vigor.
and constitution. Too many poultry
men say that they will give the low
grade pullets another chance, with
the inevitable result that the iden-
tity Of these low graders becomes
partially lost and before we know it
we have laid permanent foundation
for flock Of low vitality and weak
constitution.
The practical poultrynan is much
better of in the end to go into win
ter quarters with only so per cent. Of
the pullets that are Matched, but
make sure that every one of those
pullets are well matured, strong and
healthy. Under no circumstances
winter over a weakling .puflet. Nine
times out of ten she will not earn
profit for herself. Chicks Matched
from her eggs will probably develop
into pullets fstill lower vitality than
the parent. Don't let down the bars
for the entrance of disease by re-
tanning q poorly developed femase.
In the matter Of cockerels 1T Is
even more important to exercise
Judgment in culling. No matter how
strong the females in a breeding pen
may be, IL the pen is headed by a..
male bird Of low vitality certain
percentage of the progeny will show
early weakness Avoid sucn a,
eockerel as you would the pestilence..
watch the chicks as they mature
In every brood there will be a few
birds that will push ahead OF the
rest. Those birds are the ones 70.
save for breeders. Give us q breed
ing cockerel that started to grow the
minnie he left the shell and kept
right on growing. So far as heath
ana full egg basket are concerneo
that kind of cockerel is the one
fitted by nature to head pen Of re-
males. A cockerel that begins TO
crow at an early age, is ready at any
u
time to pick a quarrel with his COM
panions, and hangs around the apart
ments occupied by older females -
4 safe breeder for the utility man.
We believe in severe culling. Start
TO Gull as soon. as the hatch comes
off. The best medicine to give a
weak chick is the heroic axe treat
rnent such a chick is misery unto
ITSELF and a charity patient to its
over. Keep right on culling until
the flock is broiler size. then get
& busy and cull4to the last limit Of your
conscience. The money derived from
the sale of broilers you will need to
invest in the developing Of the re-
manning pullets. Take the puliets
IN hand and feed them the best OF
nourishing food, including beef scraps
morning, noon and night. Give them
shade and clean. dry quarters, plenty
OF green food and pure water. Sucn
pulIets will give good account OF
themselves when eggs are worth fifty
cents dozen It pays to Gull Sc
verely. Try 1t now. S'.- --------s