Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-12-11

Those who are interested in poultry
raising are eager for all the informa-
ton that they can obtain from those
who have succeeded. But they never
consult or investigate the methods OF
the unfortunate one, who has failed to
be successful. If they would do so
they would obtain more information
than if they would read all the poul-
try books in existence. When they do
ask the one who failed, he always
gives the answer that there isn't any
money in the poultry business" They
must investigate for themselves and
never allow their opinions regarding
poultry be influenced by others. The
statement that poultry is improbable
is without foundation. The fact that
eggs and poultry today command a
better price than ever before shows
that the demand exceeds the produc-
ton and we all know that where this
is the case, the production of eggs and
poultry will be profitable OF course,
there are many rules that have to be
followed before this can be realized.
The great reason why so many have
failed is because they have the wrong
Idea Of the business. AS a rule they
think that If one has chickens - no
matter what kind, and If he feeds
them, he ought to realize profit. They
have the idea that all one has to do Is
to invest few dollars in poultry and
before long he will be receiving such
an income from the business to make
living" They do not realize that
1t takes knowledge and business abil-
ity to make a success and that not
every person or any person can make
1t pay. The reason for all these wrong
Ideas is that they have made their
plunge" without reasoning out what
the results may be. The poultry bust
ness must be worked out and studied
continuously to succeed.
In gathering material for this arti-
Gle, the writer visited the poultry
yards of many successful and many
unsuccessful poultrymen. In the yards
of those that were successful the first
thing that attracted his attention was
the cleanliness of both houses and
yards. One breeder in particular used
lime so that it looked as if the drop
ping boards were of concrete He did
not sprinkle the lime around in heaps,
as is commonly done, but he dipped a
broom in the lime and then swept the
boards off. The result was that every
thing was cleaned in an attractive way
and the lime was not so easily stirred
up. If lime is sprinkled in little heaps
and the fowls become excited, they
are liable to stir it up so that they can
hardly breathe. If this happens, 1t
will seriously retard the growth of the
young chickens. The yards of this
breeder were swept every morning
when the weather conditions were ia.
vorable. OF course that part which
he was cultivating for green food was
not disturbed or the part he had re-
served for dust baths. When he had
all the rubbish swept up, he did not
pile 1t up in some corner, but 1t was
burned Immediately. Here lies one OF
the secrets Of his success. Rubbish
makes an excellent breeding place fol
all manner Of disease and where dis
ease is present there is no chance OIL
success.
The next point that was noticed was
that every man had thoroughbred
stock. Some had paid as high as $1(
per bird. This does not seem high. te
the professional poultryman. but wher
the average person reaches the poin
where he is willing to pay that much
1t shows he realizes what Is needed tt
make a success. When one visits
poultry yard and finds fine, thorough
bred stock he invariably becomes ;
friend of the owner. The birds are
not only pleasing to the eye but the.
actually earn their salt" 1t has beer
said that thoroughbred bird requires
less care, feed and equipment to max,
success than scrub does. OF al
the poultry yards visited there wa,
only one case Of failure being mad,
with thoroughbred stock and this wal