The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-11-03
Alabama Loses S750,000
From Careless Han
ding of Eggs
UNCLE SAM GIVES
EXCELLENT ADVICE
No Reason Why Alabama Should Not
Supply the 5000 Cases of
Eggs Used Each Week
in Birmingham
By ELLIS &. HOLLUMs

II is estimated that the annual loss to
the farmers of the United States from
bad methods OF producing and handling
eggs is s45oOo,OOo The loss to Alabama
farmers is estimated at S750000.
The local dealers in poultry and eggs
buy most of their eggs from Missouri, Ne
braska and Tennessee. It is said that
out of every 1900 cases Of eggs bought
sn the Morris avenue market, not more
than 20 cases come from Alabama poul-
try farms. The reason given is that
the Alabama eggs are inferior to those
of the three states named. The Ala
bama farmer. II seems, handles his eggs
improperly and fails to take sufficient
precaution when packing them FOR ship
ment.
The farmer who does not make spe-
cialty of poultry has but little interest
In the upkeep of the little runway that
ne usually has about the premises. He
leaves to the housewife and children the
business Of keeping the nests clean, OF
gathering the eggs and of attending to
the manifold duties of the chicken farm.
Tt appears that the farmer in Alabama
has not become awakened to the vast
amount of money there Is to be made
IN poultry farming He uses slipshod
methods and his loss is, therefore, no
mean factor A large number of "hacll-
yard farmers in the cities and large
towns make neat sums every year out of
the poultry business and that being true,
there is no reason why the farmer who
goes into the business in the proper spirit
and takes the proposition from business
standpoint only, should not make money,
Government Gives Advice
The federal government has issued a
circular to the farmers of the United
States which gives many valuable hints
poultry raising and egg producing.
This circular is sent out by the DEPART
ment of agriculture and is signed by
James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture.
Here Is a list OF cardinal rules given:
I. Keep the nests clean, provide one
nest for every four hens.
?. Gather the eggs twice daily
3. Keep the eggs in cool, dry room
or cellar.
4 Market the eggs at least twice a
week.
5. Sell. kill or confine all male birds
as soon as the Matching season is over.
The government circular advocates tire
selling of infertile eggs, saying that they
keep longer and stay fresh better than
fertile eggs. II also says that of TIE
<sA5 on, 600 yearly loss from bad methods.
SIS 900 of the loss is directly traceaole
to blood rings" The blood ring is formed
in the egg after a certain period of In
cubation and is preventive on the farm
The blood ring is only formed I'm a fer
tile egg and cannot be produced In an
snfertile egg. 1t often develops in the
nest or even in unheated rooms, espe-
cially during summer weather. The blood
ring is troublesome only in hot weather
and the department of agriculture says
the quickest way to get rid of the trou-
bic is to obviate 1t. In other words do
not allow the hens to run with male
birds Infertile eggs are those laid by
hens kept separate from the males.
And segregation of the females will have
absolutely no effect on the egg produc-
tion.
In the governments chart pictures are
presented showing the various stages of
Incubation in a fertile egg as compared
! with an infertlle egg After "a hours of
tfncubation a blood ring had appeared
Son the fertile egg while there was no
yapparent change in the infertle one Aft
err 36 hours the fertile egg began to turn
white and still the infertile egg remained
unchanged. At the end Of the seventh
day the chick was beginning to assume
shape In the fertile egg and the infertile
egg was unchanged
In very cold weather a fertile egg will
keep Just as well as the infertlle egg, but
in the summer the loss from blood rings
sh fertile eggs in enormous and pre-
ventable.
Should Supply Birmingham Market
In view of the fact that this loss can
be prevented, there is no reason why the
Alabama farmers should not sell Bir-
mingham merchants enough eggs to sup
ply the demand. In Birmingham no less
than 5000 cases of eggs are consumed
each week. There are 30 dozen eggs in
a case. The cities of Montgomery and
Mobile are compelled to send out of Ala
bama for eggs and it should not be so.
In this money making age the farmers
of Alabama are overlooking one of the
best methods of making money. Just for
the want of a little attention the state
of Alabama is at least $4,000 poorer each
year. II the farmers of this state would
show sufficient interest the federal gov
eminent would establish an experiment