The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-09


 TT sometimes seems as though 1t is
 adding to the burden of the house. A wife to suggest that she can profit ably keep and care for small flock or hens. Yet as I have seen it tried out it has frequently seemed to be real help rather than hindrance. There . are added steps to take, know, but in the taking of them comes new in- terest outside the kitchen that Is help ful. The change from housework To the few outdoor rounds needed to feed and care for the hens seems to make the inside work of the home move along somewhat more smoothly.
 Too many women spend all their hours indoors. missing the mental and physical help that the outer air and sunshine will give. l know more than one woman who states that her return to health dates from the time she be- gan to work outside with her poultry One woman told me. three years ago, that she had made 22 per cent profit during her first year with poultry, and in that time had regained her health From a semi-invalid she became well and strong, full of life and activity.
 Simple Methods Best
 would not advise any woman to start poultry keeping unless she is willing to adopt simple modern methods of care and feeding. I would have her plan her poultry work in a way to insure the most profit from the least time spent.
 There is such a difference in the quality of home produced eggs and home raised cd wi dinarily get at the store or market, that few folks go back to the purchased prod . uct after once testing the real thing. 7 Many boy and girl has become inter- ested in hens and chickens because or the start with the good mother in the home In fact. the boy and girl are usually the helpers from the start, and they make good ones. Children like live stock and no better can be had than the Leghorn egg machines or the general purpose kinds, as the Rhode Island Red Wyandotte or Plymouth Rock. Often the rearing of the chickens becomes the work of the youngsters of the family. It all depends on the start and how the work is planned out.
 The size of the flock depends upon many factors, but I would advise that it be made up of about 50 layers. Not that l would urge making start with that number, but start with the idea of mak- ing 50 the limit of the flock at least until experience is gained. You might not have over 10 layers next autumn and winter but in year or two l would increase to 50 laying females.
 Fifty layers make nice flock to han dle, That number of fowls will run well together, will fit into the space usually to be had in village or town lot. and can be comfortably quartered in house 12x21 feet in size. They can be watered from the same pail. fed from one hopper, and be handled as a single unit which simplifes the daily care. Fifty hens will require but little more attention than would half that number, while the surplus eggs from the larger flock, the excess beyond family requirements, will go long way toward returning a nice profit from the plant beyond operating expenses.
 I would advise the beginner to make the start by buying bullets that are Lear lay sF ing maturity. In fact. I believe that the busy housewife had better not attempt chicken rearing for a year or two, at least on an extensive scale. would bend all the efforts at first to getting table eggs and let the matching and rearing come later when the interest in the fas- cinating work becomes tco great to re- sist.
 Selected Stock Most Profitable
 The only thing that stands in tine way of buying 50 big bullets is the cost. It does look large to put so much money into the layers. However, when you real ize that you can sell these birds one year later for nearly much es you pay for them, the cost seems less than at first thought. Do not let the price of 50 ma ture bullets keep you from starting at all. If your pocketbook will allow the purchase of only half-dozen bullets. let that be your number
 I urge the start with poultry, start now, with 50 or less good layers. Pull let's will cost more money than yearling hens. but are worth much more. The bullets should lay through the late fall and winter months, the season when the yearling hens would be growing a new coat of feathers and are not producing eggs. The bullets will have given you several dozen of eggs before the hens really get down to laying at all
 Dc not let p cents per bird keep you from buying the better ones bullet that is full grown is worth twice that one that is within a month or two of lay ing" The slow maturing, half grown bullet may be three months getting ready to lay, and even then prove unsatisfac e. tory as long as she lives. The price of bullets varies much in different sec- i tions of the country that cannot state a fair price to pay. know the prices are higher than 10 years ago, but even at the present prices they return larger profit than in my memory, because of the increased value of real fresh eggs.
 Leghorns or Wyandottes
 If you purchase bullets, and care only for the egg production of the flock you will find the single comb White Leghorn easiest to secure. The White Leghorn has taken on new start the last three years, and is becoming very common in town and country The large farms are not ts only raising their own bullets, but have a r surplus to sell to village folks
 There is the disadvantage of the Icghorn females as compared with those of the larger breeds. that they are not in good demand for dressed poultry. owing to their light weight. Before starting in with the flock of layers. before buying your bullets, it will be we'll to inquire as to the de- r1and for yearling hens for table use.
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