Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-05-26
Better Breeding and Care of Poultry


Just the same. Thousands OF farm
ers OF the United States could justly
give their wives credit for paying
more of the mortgages from their
farms than the farmers them selves.
The help that comes in from time
to time seems small, but it comes
often, a few dollars every week. By
the end of the year the sum amounts
probably to considerable, and the ex-
pense of keeping the poultry has
never really been noticed. The hen
goes about the farm picking up
waste feed here and there, and the
expense for feed is small.
At the time when the hen needs
care, when eggs are high, she, in
many instances, is sadly neglected,
allowed to roost in trees, or in an
open drafty shed, and is not pro-
yided proper food and drink. The
owner is thus deprived of his winter
profits. The idea is prevalent, that
the poultry business is a woman's
Job, and that it requires but little at
tenton. The wheat farms of the
Northwest could be made more pro-
ftable, if the men would give the
poultry more consideration.
Poultry, must of necessity, from
year to year, furnish a greater per
cent of the meat supply of the Uni
ted States. The open range has
been fenced, thus increasing the cost
of production, also decreasing the
supply. People seem inclined to
complain of the high price of beef
and pork, but indications are that
the day of cheap meat has passed.
City people are beginning to keep
a few birds in the backyard, finding
in them a substantial aid in the table
supplies of the home.
One very noticeable feature of the
city poultry business is the ambition
to keep pure bred birds. If the
poultry shows were patronized by
the farmers in like proportion, and
with the same amount of enthusiasts
ism, as by the towns people, the
country would see a great boom in
the poultry show enterprise.
The idea that one bird is as good
as another, and that mongrel is as
good as pure breds, is fast losing
ground. The farmer has long since
discarded the idea Of keeping razor
backed hogs and scrub cattle, and is
continually casting about for some
think a little better. If this is
good idea with cattle and hogs, and
other stock, why not with poultry?
There probably is no better indica-
ton of a farmers success than the
quality Of his stock.
1t has been demonstrated many
times that the bird conforming near
est to the type required by the
standard of perfection, whatever the
breed, is the bird that brings in the
profit; also that pure bred fowls are
more profitable than mongrels, or
birds of no particular breed.
There are other things equally as
important as the breeding in making
the poultry business more profitable
Proper housing is a very important
part of the business. Many seem to
think it necessary to build large ex-
pensive houses, but the less expen-
5lVe houses have proved to be of bet
ter service than the more expensive
ones. There are several plans of
houses in use, but the most prevail
ent idea seems to be the open front,
with drop curtains, not too warm,
yet excluding the draft. Whatever
the plan of house, one thing Is abso-
lutely necessary, and that is to ex-
clude the draft from the roosting
quarters. Even a small crack or
knot hole may cause very serious
A good scratching floor must be
provided. We have found by expert
ments that hens of all breeds may be
fed and cared for in exactly the same
manner. Hens on a floor will in every
instance give double the returns that
can be obtained from birds on the
ground.
Dust baths must be provided that
the birds may have an opportunity to
clean themselves, as this is the only
way they have of riding themselves
of lice and mites and keeping their
skins in good condition. Place a
shallow box where the sun shines on
1t; fill in about three inches with
fine, dusty soil or clay; mix in this
a couple of handfuls of some good
lice powder. This will not only aid
in Kidding the birds of lice, but will
also prevent scaly legs. Do not,
however, depend upon the dust bath
IN RaaD tho 1{gn fv,y,