The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-08
WAR WILL INCREASE
PRICES FOR POULTRY
Farmers Biggest Problem Is to
Keep Cost Of Production at
Lowest Possible Level.
PULLETS SHOULD BE SAVED
ny TToF. II. n. LEWIS.

I York city mas taken steps 10 meet TINS
rise In food values IVY the establishment
OF n number Of so-called city public mar.
ketS The Government has attempted
through the enforcement of laws To check
the unnecessary increased prices which the
housewife must pay for her food supply
Poultry products have not risen In pro-
portion to other more perlshable foods
This Is duo TO tho fact that tho increased
cost OF tho production OF eggs is sec
ond0ry and not Il primary cause OF high
prices.
The poultryman Is constantly asking
himself how he can get higher prices and
keep down the cost OF production. In or
der TO answer this question intellgently
| II II necessary 90 understand the condl-
lions created by tho war Europe in the
next few months and possibly years. will
I've an immense consumer OF staple prod
ucts produced IN the United States and
Canada In the countries at war the en-
tire male population. which usually works
the land and produces the crops il prac-
tically on the battle line fighting for ma
ilonal existence The women, children
and old men must do whatever farming 10
done, which at best will enable them 20
produce but "A small proportion OF the COM
modities needed.
High prices received by the producer will
be due 70 indirect causes that ~, there will
he no direct demand for poultry products
Tor expectation to Europe. largely on ao-
count OF the fact OF tho periahable nature
~ the product ana the high cost for same
There may be. however, considerable de-
mand from Canada. due to tho fact that
less eggs and poultry are produced. on ,,c-
count Of the extensive demand for food
sturs for shipment TO England Higher
prices FOR poultry and eggs will be due to
two Indirect causes. First, the great de-
mand for American beef, for expectation
To the warning countries, will cause the
net of ,.Aa NJ
IhU Will mean "A greater demand for
poultry and eggs which can not hut help
To Increase the price materially Poultry
meat and eggs Will be used extensively
during the coming winter on the Ameri-
can table IN the place Of beef and other
forms OF mea,
The second Indirect cause Of the pre-
vslling high price vii! be the material in
crease In food cost. duo 20 "A great de-
mand for grains in Europe We have
already seen in this short time how the
price OF wheat has risen 10 IL very high
point THIS means that the pou,tryman
must pay more for his food, and hence
II will cost him more TO produce eggs
This high price and possible scarcity OF
common cereals or grains will affect all
meat production In the same way The
Increase In selling price due TO demand
and cost OF production will. however. he
greatly ahead Of the slight Increased cost
Ios foodstuNs
How can the poul'rvmnn best CRASH
his opportun't!rs2 His opportunity is
the ability 20 produce throughout the
next eight or ten months an abundant
supply and at the same time t. main
TAIN as low cost OF production as pos
sihe. The following Ave factors should
receive special consideration, as II IL only
by attention to the details that he Ia
able 20 meet the present peculiar con-
: ditions First, mis- aim should be e in
crease the size OF his flock \ larger flock,
properly managed. VII! mean larger pro-
duc'ion and there viii certainly bc Q, de-
maud for this Increased production at
the prevailing high prices Tho flock can
he Increased in two WAYS First by re-
tanning number OF ycarllng and even
! two-year-old hens, and second by putting
into winter quarters large flock OF pull
let's Two-year-old hens, especially the
LeEhorn breeds. II properly managed viii
produce fair number Of eggs IL sold
at prevailing prices this winter The
EFFORT should be 10 look over the old birds
well, weed out any which seem TO be
especially fat and not In the best OF
heath and vlgor These older hens should
be kept separate from the pullets as they
will have TO be managed differently and
compelled TO take more exercise In order
10 keep down the body fat All available
pullets raised by the nOultryman during
the past summer should be kept by him
and not sold. Pullets are going TO be
I'm great demand and are going TO sell
at prevailing high prices Even In view
Of the possibility OF getting considerable
revenue from their sale II will surely be
more profitable 10 keep them for the pro-
ductlon OF eggs. Pullets will also be more
or less scarce due 10 tho poor conditions
Of Matching last spring.
Having insured a large flock OF healthy
birds, the second problem OF the poultr,
| ma cbO IN ir,lS D.
} a congenial environment which will in
. duce production. In order 20 insure win
ter production the birds should he con
, fined In the laying house all the time.
, but should not he crowded. At least -four
square feet OF floor space should he al
lowed each bird In the house. The house
should he kept perfectly dry, we'll lighted
and well ventilated. These three factors,
combined with suitable diet. will create
, practically the same conditions which pre-
vail IN the spring and summer, at which
season the hens produce large numbers OF
, eggs
Again II IL urgent, II the birds are to
he kept In producing condition, to keep
the flock perfectly healthy. Health means
/, vitality and freedom from disease. This
condition OF the flock can be assured by
compelling them 10 take considerable exer-
, else. This can he done by keeping the
floor Of the house covered with litter. and
scattering the gram IN the litter, Cleanl-
, ness Is a second requisite toward main
tanning health. The house should he
thoroughly cleaned In the fall before the
birds start on their winter campaign
The poultryman should be on the watch
for tho first symptoms OF any disease
such appearing. the conditions CAUSING
same should be carefully studied and
steps taken 10 eliminate the possi bilities
, OF the Infection spreading This can be
done by the isolation Of the Infected bird
: and careful dlsinfection OF the house
Roup chickenpox and canker are three
: winter Affections OF poultry. Vitality
should be maintained at all costs, FOR
T without this no flock OF poultry can pro.
/, duce profitable dozen OF eggs, nor will
: the birds kept for meat production put
on profitable pound OF flesh .
, Birds are machines, or should be con.
sidered as such. They consume a raw
/ product, which IL grain, green food. SC.
and produce for human food cons,Imp.
ton eggs Given II healthy flock II is
y necessary for us to supply It with IN,
proper food materials II we nre to &c,
, n suitable production. Tho poultrymar
= must obtain this food from MS near q
D source as possible. when considering n
from a standpoint OF cost II Is neve,
, desirable to sacrifice quality for cheap
- ness, but most Eastern poultrymen car
materially lower the cost OF food sup,
ply n they are 80 located that they car
/ ut.