The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

important Details
OF MANAGEMENT
Often Neglected
Copyright, 1913, by Geo. A. MeDevltt Co.

l.
Any old hen will lay during the spring
months, when temperature. natural food
supply and the breeding instinct combine
10 force her to produce a few eggs, at
least. Therefore, the most inexperienced
poultryman may expect his flock to pro-
duce heavily during the spring and early
summer.
But the securing of cold weather eggs
is another matter demanding the ex-
ercise of skill and thoughtful attention to
details of management. Some poultry
men who are fairly successful in this
work fail to get maximum results be-
cause of neglect of some of the little de-
tails discussed by Professor Stoneburn
in his contribution for the current week.
by PROF. FREDERIC II. sTONEBURN
IL VERY householder keenly realizes
that there exists an egg famine
I'D this winter. The prices of both
fresh and cold storage stock demonstrate
this in the most forcible way. Average
quotations have never been as high, at
least within the memory of this genera
ton. Fresh eggs are luxury. retailing
in the larger eastern cities at to 6
cents each -
The situation as become SO acute that
being imported from Europe, and though
these are several weeks old when they
reach the consumer. and, in addition, are
relatively small in size and weak-bodied,
they are selling readily at good prices.
This condition is due to natural causes,
not to market manipulation, as many ag-
grieved consumers seem to think. There
is normally a very limited supply OF
fresh eggs during the months of fall and
carly winter. This season the output is
much less than usual, presumably due to
which adversely affected the crop of
youngsters the prospective producers Of
winter eggs.
In. certain states where the poultry In
dustry is of great Importance the ter
rifle rains and resulting floods seriously
cut into the chick population. In others
the unusual drought and extreme heat of
the summer killed vast numbers of the
growing pulets and seriously retarded
the development of the survivors. OF
course this has reduced the egg crop.
which even under lnormal conditions is
insufficient, and the inexorable working
OF the law of supply and demand has
sent prices soaring.
Naturally this operates to the advan-
tage of every eoultrsfnan fortunate
enough to possess a flock of winter lay
ers. and such should make the most of
the opportunity to secure nice profits this
season to offset the lean years when con-
ditions are not favorable.
But the mere ownership of a big bunch
4 of potential layers does not insure good
output of the desired eggs. The owner
mest do his full share, and in this many
fail 1t Is the object of this contribution
~ int x1ft ~ late flc n
agement which are often neglected,
either through lack Of appreciation of
their Importance or sheer negligence on
the part of the attendant.
Selected Stock Most Important
As has been pointed ont in an earlier
article in this series. the first essential is
stock of the right kind, either fully ma
tured pullets hens which have COM
pletely renewed their coats.
Then this stock must he quartered in
roomy pens3 which are dry, sunny, well
ventilated and maintained in sanitary
Finally, the rations must be ample
and varied. containing materials from
the four great groups of poultry feed
stuffs Doctor Brigham has so happil"
called the four G's" grains. greens
grits and, grubs. Also clean water al
ways.
The hfalth of the stock must be
safeguarded, using prevention rather
than attempting to cure diseases which
have been permitted to secure foot
hold. The birds must be kept comfort
able, busy and happy. That last word
Is. used ladvisedly Happiness and con-
tentment are big factors, though often
ignored
Thus late in the season there Is lit
tie opportunity to make many changes
in the flock But there is still oppor
tunity to etll out some of the loafers
,,.I .,ft+ a rar1ya md
n better chance to do their utmost
The really inferior specimens, those
which are OBVIOUSLY of little value,
should be- sent to the block. This
brings in some cash and reduces feed
bills
The late-hatched pullets, and especial-
lv the hens which are still devoting
their energies to developing new coats,
should be- retained. as they will give
a good account of themselves later.
In fact. the latter have probably been
the very best layers during the past
YEAR, and will make excellent breed
ers next spring. not only in view cf
their egg record. but because they
have rested during the winter, and viii,
consequently furnish better Matching
eggs.
It is not a difficult task to identify
large proportion of the birds ac-
tually laying at this season of the
year by inspecting and handling them.
OF course, the use of trap nests is the
only positive means of accurately de-
termning which hens are the produce
ers, but large majority Of poultrymcn
cannot deyote to their flock the time
necessary 40 attend to these appliances.
Generally speaking, the winter layer
Is an active. bird with hearty appc-
tite, usually In good flesh and possess
ing wellidcveloped comb and wattles,
which are bright red in color. Her
abdomen will feel full and flexible, not
shrunk en-. Indicating that the egg-pro
ducing organs are still developed; not
round and hard. the result of the ac-
cumulationiof a great lump of fat in
the abdomen and thick layers of fat on
the intestines. =
Some practical men pay particular at
tention to the position of the so-called
pelvic bones the two pointed bones which
may be felt Just above the vent. The
theory is that If the hen is laying regular
ly these botes will be well spread, hav-
ing considerable distance between them,
and if the points are close together. it is