Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-23
LET THE BOYS
RAISE POULTRY

There is no part of farming
more fascinating, to the average
boy than the care Of poultry. At
the same time there is no branch
that offers him a better chance
of success.
The equipment need not cost
much, and, in fact, most of the
needed coops and fixtures can be
built by almost any ambitious
boy with very little expenditure
outside of his own work. Then
a small outlay for eggs or a trifle
larger one for stock, and he is
ready for business.
There are several ways of start
ing a flock. The best plan is the
one that best suits the pocket and
the circumstances. The cheapest
way is, of course, to begin with
a setting of eggs, or perhaps two
or three and work up gradually
from that.
The most important consideration
is the breed to be kept. It all
depends upon the market which
Will pay NAAC DGSls AG IGAO dAG
seldom as good for raising, frying
and broiling as some Of the larger
breeds, as they usually weigh less
at the same age, though maturing
even more quickly in the matter
Of reproducing.
1t is a. common saying that
there is more in the feed than in
the breed" This is very true,
for any breed properly fed and
cared for will be sure to give good
returns, if the strain is good.
1t is safe enough to keep any
breed that you like. so long as
your fowls are from good strains
and full-blooded. Nearly every
one has some preference. either
of size or color, or other quail
ties. and there are none of the
standard breeds but which have
much to recommend them.
So. if you wish to keep Brown
Leghorns, or Buff Orpingtons or
Rhode Island Reds, you will be
perfectly safe in doing so, no mat
ter what someone else may say
in favor of other breeds.
But once you have adopted a par
ticular kind, stick to 1t. Do not
change, at least until you have
given it several years trial. Usual
ly the fault, If there is any, is
in care or handling, not in the
fowls themselves.
When you are selecting your
fowls insist upon having nothing
but good, young birds. Throw
out all the old hens; they have
seen their best days. In buying
do not take anything over Is
months old at the outside.
To mate with the spring pullets
you should have a yearling male,
but If your hens are over a
year old a cockerel from the
spring hatch Is much better.
Before you try to pick out your
fowls study up we'll on the char
acteristics of the breed you have
chosen. If the hens are to weigh
five pounds, standard weight, see
that yours come pretty near TO the
figure.
Look with special care to the
shape of your hens. Get those that
are just as near like the pictures
you see of that particular breed
as you can.
If YOU study the poultry papers
well and notice the illustrations
of prize-winning birds. you will
soon learn the qualifications you
want.
If you cannot get birds that are
exactly right. come just as near
to it as you can. and then breed
up to a higher standard.
Read everything on the poultry
question that you can get hold
of. Do not be afraid of being
called a Chicken crank" or a
hen granny" When people want
good stock they always go to some
chicken crank" to get it. 1t is a
good advertisement for your bust
ness to show that you are wholly
in it.
Take as many poultry journals
as you can afford. Make a scrap
book and paste in it everything
you can find about chickens.
Watch your own flock. Expert
ence is what counts. Get acquaInt-
ed with your hens. They will soon
learn to know you and there are
no finer pets, or more profitable
ones than ten or a dozen hand
some hens.
A well kept flock of hens means
a steady income-enough to keep
you in spending money while you
are waiting for your crops to
grow. That one thing is enough
TO recommend poultry keeping as
a suitable side line" for the boy
farmer.