Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1914-01-30

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1t is also advisable that the fowls be
moved to their new quarters before
they begin to lay. If the beginner has
had experience in poultry keeping it
will be all right to purchase eggs:
otherwise he should begin with the
fowls and thus gain some knowledge
of caring for poultry before attempting
to raise chickens.
For convenience, chickens may be
classified as egg breeds, meat breeds.
general purpose breeds and fancy or
ornamental breeds.
The egg breeds include the small or
medium sized fowls. which are very
active, quick to mature, producers of
white shelled eggs. usually nonsitters
or at best but poor sitters and rather
poor mothers. The various varieties
of Leghorns and Minorcas are good
representatives OF this class. Be
cause they are poor sitters some other
breed, or at least a few other fowls.
should be kept If natural methods of
incubation are to be employed. On ac-
count OF their early maturity 1t is not
uncommon for individuals to begin lay
ing at the age Of four and one-half
months. These breeds do not fatten
as readily under ordinary conditions as
the larger and less active breeds. The
fowls of this class have large combs
and wattles, which make them rather
sensitive to low temperatures.
The largest fowls are represented i'm
the meat class, and these breeds are
especially suitable for the production
OF large roasters. They are slow and
somewhat sluggish in movement, with
little desire for ~foraging. easily con-
fined by low fences. rather slow to ma
ture. persistent sitters and rather indif-
ferent layers of large brown shelled
eggs. Many poultrymen, however, are
getting very good egg yields from them.
The Brahms, Gochins and Langshans
eeSang to this class.
The general purpose class includes
fowls which are of fair size and which
will also produce a good quantity of
brown shelled eggs. As M has to
make frequent sales Of flesh in the
shape of surplus cockerels and hens.
the carcass as well as egg production
should be considered. The general
purpose breeds are usually good sitters
and good mothers. They have medium
sized combs and wattles and endure
cold weather well. They occupy a
medium position between the egg and
meat breeds as to size, egg production
and docility. The Plymouth Rocks.
Wyandottes. Orpingtons and Rhode Is
land Reds are good representatives of
this class.
AS a rule. the breeds In the ornamen-
tai are not so well adapted for farm
purposes as are the breeds of the other
three classes, The Polish, Exhibition
Games, Silkies. Sultans, Frizzles and
Bantams are representative ornamen-
tai breeds.
In the manner Of housing fowls we
have two systems. widely different in
their extremes. At one extreme is the
pf0ny plan. which consists in placing (,
small houses for small flocks far enough
apart to obviate the necessity Of
fences, thus giving free range. with but
httle mingling of the different f1ocks.
the other extreme we have the cor.
tlnuous apartment house. This kind
or house consists OF 4 series Of sepa-
rate pens. under one roof. opening df
rectly into i hallway In the rear. or
having doors between the pens without +,
the hallway. Or opening into d hallway +,
and ais iale one another There are /,