Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-21

Dobbs' prize pen. Stan photo by WI
Although one Of the youngest poultry
breeders in the point of time during
which he has been engaged in the bust
ness. c. A Dobbs, of Gainesville, Ca,
has achieved wonderful success in this
field and his successes should be an in
centive TO any one contemplating enter
ing upon the breeding OF poultry Dur
ing the first ripple of the wave which
has sweIled to such proportions in the
state of Georgia Mr.. Dobbs began the
raising of poultry three years ago. Fol-
lowing the advice of older men, he began
with a very small stock of high-bred
Single, Comb Rhode Island Reds. He
devoted a great deal of time, care and
attention to a study of these birds, grad
ually increasing the number of his pens
until at the present time he has one of
the most attractive and practical poultry
farms in the state. He has branched out
from the Single Comb Rhode Island
Red variety. and now makes a speciality
of Crystal White Orpingtons, American
and English strain, as well as the former
breed.
birds and is just completing an extern
sive and spacious brooder in which he
expects to give more than 5000 young
chicks a start in life during the present
season.
NEW CHICKEN BROODER
The new brooder is constructed of
wood and Is a long narrow building, fit
ted with a large number of windows
which AFFORD plenty of light and air. The
length of the building is something over
10 feet by Is wide The southern ex-
posture side OF the building is divided into
q compartments, by feet, capable of
accommodating LOO young chickens.
Each Of these compartments is supplied
with an adaptable hover which is kept
in running order from the outside of
the pen. The floors of the compartments
are covered with white sand and are
connected with runs in the yard by a
swinging door which can also be operated
outside OF the pens. These yards are
feet by .. are planted in fresh green
grass, which is considered most essential
for young chickens as well as old ones.
A narrow hallway about feet in width
runs the entire length OF the building
just north of the chicken compartments,
and separates them from a row of set
ting nests of Mr.. Dobbs' creation.
In regard to these nests, Mr. Dobbs
said: 1T Is a familiar saying with poul-
try men that the hen knows more about
raising her chicks than the most careful
student of her actions is able to find out
For this reason have decided to raise
a certain number OF chickens each year
with setting hens, although the greater
number will be Matched from my incu-
bator cellar.
HENS THE BEST MOTHER.
"A study of the hen has developed
the fact that she matches more eggs
when her nest is made directly upon
mother earth. Taking these things into
consideration, I have constructed so box
nests separated from each other by wire.
Built directly on the ground and covered
with a strong, solid board, the nests will
be kept at a moderate temperature all
the time because OF the fact that they
are in close proximity to the Adaptable
hovers. When the chickens are Matched 1
can also transfer them dirtctly to the
brooder OF turn them loose in one of
the runs with the mother hen"
On the solid board covering the nests
long troughs have been constructed in
which green cats can be grown during
the entire season. All poultry raisers
have realized the necessity of furnishing
the hens with a certain amount of
green food during the winter months
after the grass has been worn down or
destroyed. In order to secure plenty of
food of this kind numerous experiments
were tried and the most practicable one
is as follows: place the oats in a
shallow trough without any soil at all
at a temperature OF so degrees. Allow
them TO remain untouched but keep them
moist at all times. In the course of a
very short time they will begin to sprout.
after which they viii grow and afford
most suitable feed of which the fowls
are very fond"
FINE LIVING HOUSE
Just beyond the large new brooder on
Mr.. Dobbs' poultry farm is the living
house of the poultry. This large build
ing is built very much on the order OF
the Tolman fresh air houses, but on a
much larger scale. and is equipped with
great many novel devices which are
the result Of the builders ingenuity.
The building itself is more than 200
feet long by % feet wide. On each side
CO hallway four feet wide are Is COM
partments nine feet by Is. Runs for the
poultry sx125 feet extend out on each
side and are connected by a trap door,
which is operated from the hallway by
string on pulley.
The compartments are spotlessly clean
The roosts are on the inside toward the
bASAl the
dropping boards which are cleaned daily
from the runway. Just beneath the
dropping boards are the nests, which en-
able the eggs to be collected without
entering the compartments, and just I'M
der the nests are the feeding and water
ing troughs Each compartment is sup
piled with running city water, which
enables the drinking troughs to be filled
at will with pure fresh water.
The Single Comb Rhode Island Reds
are kept on one side of the building in