The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-30

average man. especially the beginner. the
chances OF making complete success are
greater In the utility than In the fancy
line One Is sure TO find ready sale for
his market eggs anyway. and this IN
sures a steady income from the start "
a strain OF consistent heavy producers IL
Established trade in Matching eggs and
breeding birds may be developed When
the business Is on a paying basis one may
then safely experiment In the breeding OF
fancy fowls II ne so desires
Understand. the above refers TO those
who engage In the poultry business as
means Of making a living. The wealthy
man is not Influenced by the same prac-
teal considerations, and to him this ad-
vice does not necessarily apply.
NV own farm IL located on heavy soil
and near the sea coast This compels me
to adopt certain methods which might not
apply under more favorable conditions OF
soil and climate But there are a few
basic principles which apply anywhere.
and those | will discuss briefly.
To the amateur ! would say with the
greatest emphasis. begin on a small scale,
Gain experience I'm the everyday details
of caring for your stock before attempt
ing 10 handle a large number OF birds.
Avoid the evil Of overctoWding. II
Your experimental plant Is Of necessity
restricted in area. keep the size or your
flock Corrcspondiugly small Intensive
methods may serve for a time. but In the
great majority OF cases success comes
easiest where plenty OF land is available.
II ~ easier TO crow the chickens, and
there Is less mortality on soil which IS
not ov"rstocked. but Is fresh and uncon-
tamluatcd Let the business plant be
established on sufficient acreage to in
sure clean soil and afford full oppor-
tunity for chicks to range widely.
The houses should hc well constructed,
/ well ventilated easy to clean.
Let the runs for the breeders be large
in size, In order that there may be
constant supply Of growing greens in
, them.
Keep the houses deeply bedded with
| clean litter. in order to make the birds
! exercise. Rake the scratch feed into this,
because the exercise thus Induced IL essen
/ tial.
There are many good systems OF feed
I ms. prefer to use moist mash. but |
know the dry mash system is all right,
/ since my birds have made such good
/ records In the various American laying
competitions where this plan Is followed.
But regardless OF the feeding method
adopted. make It a rule to use high grade
feee Inferior feeds mean lessened pro-
duciion and loss.
Careful feeding IL important. but care
/ ful, intelisent breeding is more so. Some
hens will not lay well regardless OF how
they are fed The tendency toward
heavy egg production is surely inherited.
and this valuable characteristic can
surely he intensified where proper breed
ing methods are pursued
The basis OF success in this work is a
knowledge Of the pedigree and perform
auce Of the indiy dual This applies to
! poultry as in other lines of stock breed
ing, and, of course II indicates the per
sistent use Of the trap nest in the breed
ing pens.
would advise any one to secure good
foundation stock when taking up this
line Much time may be saved by taking
advantage of the work which others have
already done. start with two or more
unrelated pens in order that close in
breeding may be avoided without bring
ing IN unrelated blood OF unknown value.
Trap nest the selected females and use
Ehe heavy layers for breeding purposes
the next season. Use only such as arc
strong and vigorous and which lay eggs
of the desired type.
To these mate an unrelated male which
is the son OF heavy layer. This matter
Is Of greatest importance and must no.
be dsrcgarded
For fall layins-which also means win
ter laying-hatch Leghorus about the
first or second week of April Wyandottes
and similar breeds, the second or third
week Of March.
Give the chicks the most careful atten-
Al'ls llNNdlh al NtdhllllEN, ftedlln ana
strength are demanded and must he APP
parent in the strain II permanent success
Is to he had,
All chicks should be toe marked So that
both sire and dam are known. Ngair
trap nest the pullets. Right here the re-.
suits Of breeding will begin To- appear
From certain matings the pullets WI
practically all be good layers From
others they will be inferior Retain am,
breed from the lines which give the hes
results, and in short time the whol,
flock will carry this inherited tendency To-
ward heavy laying.
Retain every breeding male which show,
= the ability to throw good pulpts. ~,
81 them As long as they are capable ~ fc,
tlizing IN" eggs of their mates. rcSardlcs,
lot their age believe that tested breed
ing male is worth small fortune to an,
, poultrrman,
/ In conclusion, would Ike to say
word about cgg trc. | know that man,
people hold the view that there is n,
: egg type no physical characteristic
which indicate the ability to produu
many eggs. with this | differ vii
, frankly state tn" points which Ike {,
see in my layers
T size Medium for the breed tending tu
ward neither extreme
, PlumaEc-R Rather TIGHT IN feather
, liead-Skull rather narrow. with fun
bright eye Rather short. stout hin
. Comb fine IN texture. size not as i'm
, purtant AS texture.
Neck Rather long not too thick
Rody---lreast prominent and "athe,
lorg Back long and wide across In,
hips. Good cushion. In short, a square.
built bird with body held nj such ar
angl" rs 10 throw the stern much lower
. than the breast
l"gs~-Medium In length and set wei
, apart.
rail--carried rather high
The Whul" appearance Of the hird should
, b" trim and active.
The above, In brief, outlines N,
method OF breeding and sclecting hrav,
layers II IS given 10 the poultyymer
of America IN the hope that It may ID,
~ benefit 70 them.