The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15
RAISING CHICKENS
AT UNIVERSITY
Missouri Amateur Is Taught to
Keep Fowls for Profit
BEATS CATTLE GROWING
Poultry Products of Missouri Are Much
Larger Than the Profits Re-
ceived From Cattle Dur
ing Last Year


From the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Columbia, Mo-Chickens could be
raised on top of a st. Louis skyscraper
if the requisite conditions of sunlight
fresh air, shelter, proper food and ex-
eroise were met. Do you banker after
fresh eggs and tender broilers when the
prices soar? Are you bothered with the
poultry bug?" Raising chickens for your
own table needs is a growing fad, and
any one with average intelligence and
piece of ground that is dry and healthful
can do it. A suburban home is best, but
on a more limited scale fowls thrive
wherever they are given proper atten-
ton and care and comfort
Bulletins are issued by the United States
department of agriculture, by the Mis-
souri, state board of agriculture, by the
University of Missouri, and by every
state agricultural college in the United
States, telling how to raise chickens. A
course in poultry husbandry was recently
given at the University of Missouri, the
first course of the kind ever given in the
state, at which 250 students attended day
classes and over 150 attended night lee
lures on poultry raising. Farm papers Of
all kind conduct poultry departments"
Such formidable array of scientific in
formation Is liable to discourage an ANA
teur who may feel, like the average farm
er, that 1.-The way to keep chickens is just
to keep EN-" Many farmers, however.
who have adopted suggestions from the
scientists, let their poultry keep Them
instead of keeping the poultry. few
chickens will prove profitable If properly
looked after.
A Constant Demand
Eggs and dressed chickens are in con-
slant demand. are staple articles of diet
everywhere, and can be depended upon to
sell for cash anywhere in Missouri.
The beef cattle marketed by Missouri
farmers last year did not bring, by thou
sands of dollars the amount received for
poultry products.
1t requires a year and half to put a
beef steer on the market, while good mar
ketable chickens are a question of five
or six months.
Advancing prices of beef and pork prod
ucts have added to the demand for poul-
try, that chickens ara eggs are at a
higher price level now than ever before
and are aVpaying crop.
What sort of chickens shall I raise?
This is the first question the beginner
asks. 1t depends on whether he wants to
produce dressed chickens, sell eggs or put
broilers on the market.
There are IL leading varieties of chick
ems, which can be grouped in four classes.
the egg breeds. the meat breeds. general
purpose breeds and ornamental fowls. The
European and Mediterranean breeds are
the biggest egg producers. They are
small, light feathered birds, mature quick
ly and lay early. They have large wat
ties and combs and are sensitive to low
temperatures. The Asiatic breeds are the
meat producers; they are easily confined
by low fences, and are persistent settlers.
The American breeds are combination
stock, adapted to egg production. without
sacrificing weight. Ornamental breeds
to raise chickens and eggs to eat rather
than to exhibit.
Sandy Soil the Best
The location of the poultry plant should
be on a piece of sandy loan soil, with
south slope. where there is clear water to
be had. The buildings may range in size
from a plano box shed to a series Of
brooder houses and scratching sheds sew
eral hundred feet in length. A chicken
should be kept in quarters where a degree
of warmth and light are maintained suf-
ficient to simulate June weather outdoors.
With dry, clean footing, bright straw
to scratch in. and not too much feeding,
chickens can be made to lay eggs the
year around. June weather is the best
for chickens. and any system that per-
mits the warmth of the chicken house to
fall below that level will cut down egg
production Damp, infrequently cleaned
quarters breed diseases. The roosts
should be whitewashed and the interior
of the chicken house cleaned regularly
every month. Some chickens are raised
under very primitive conditions and do
well. but best results are obtained by best
handling and by constant attention to the
fowls.
1t is said by authorities that wading in
the snow will set back hens egg
producing powers for several days. 1t
is certain that cold weather will do this
If the fowls are not kept sheltered.
A chicken shed should front south, and