The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

spite of redoubled attention. they died
in sicketning numbers, and only 700
pullets We're raised. Such a bad star,
in the years work meant but one
thing-but little. If any, actual profit
could be secured after meeting such q
heavy loss.
Then Mr.. Tilleys grit came to his
rescue. Someting was wrong, that was
evident. but what? He determined to
locate the trouble, and right here nc
learned the big lesson which has been
the foundation of his later success. He
had kept and bred all his pullets re-
gardless of Strength and vigor. His
flock was below par in average quality.
There were too many culls and weak
lings, eating their three meals per day
and laying but little, excepting during
the breeding season. Then their eggs
went into the incubators, and a large
percentage of valueless chicks resulted.
After reaching this decisions he de-
termined to test the matter in the
most practical way. The flock was
carefully assorted, disregarding every
thing excepting such points as develop
ment. health and vitality He was sur
prised to find that among his 700 pull
lets he had but 500 which he regarded
as being really good ones This num-
ber produced about $50 eggs daily. Still
he clung to the weaklings, expecting
them to do better. but they did not, and
he later sold them at heavy loss.
Since that experience Mr.. Tily has been
mercless Judge and executioner. Every
sickly, weak poorly developed specimen
goes to the block. Nothing but strong
vigorous stock is retained. As he tersely
states it. better keep 90 good pullets at
a profit than 200 poor ones at loss
Profiting by this lesson, the succeeding
years operations We're more successful
the cost of the feed. repairs, taxes, hired
labor, insurance, express charges, etc.
In other words, Mr.. Tilley's labor netted
him $50 per week, and his family ex-
penses were low for the reasons given
above.
At present this farm has capacity of
1000 birds, and the average net income IS
in the neighborhood of $1,000 Mr.. Tilley
feels that this Is about as large farm
as he can comfortably handle that
further expansion involves dependence on
hired help to large extent; and this he
wishes to avoid. In any event, he has a
snug little business, which regularly re-
turns nice income and has built firm
foundation, upon which he can build and
expand to larger proportions if he ever de-
sires to.
The experience of this man merely
shows what an interested hard working
individual can do. He was typical city
man, totally ignorant OF practical agricui-
ture. He had no working capital He be-
gan poultry keeping ON a most modest
scale; he studied his busines; learned the
details through experience; watched the
main chance, and increased his operations
as opportunity offered. He stuck on his
job, worked hard, kept his expenses down
In dozen years he has progressed from.
the ownership of a hen and packing box
coop to a beautiful. fully equipped, profit
paying poultry farm. He is healthy,
happy and independent Who dare ask
for more? -
In practically every section Of this coun-
try one may find equally good opportuni-
ties. A start may be made with a very
limited amount of capital and progress
made according to the ability of the in
dividual.
In the management of his farm Mr. TIL
ley sticks closely to common sense meth
DDS. Buildings and furnishings are as
simple and inexpensive as 1t is possible
to make them without sacrificing eff
cheney. The whole plant Is arranged with
view to economizing time. and the
necessary labor-saving appliances are pro-
vided. The regular work has been re-
duced to a system. There is no lost nc
ton.
The breeding birds are kept in small
fiocks and are quartered in scratching
sneonouscss WITH ample runs connected.
The layers are Quartered In large build
ings several hundred birds in a flock.
These large houses have double yards.
one in front and the other In the rear Of
the buildings. These yards are used al
ternately. each being cultivated and
seeded down when the other is in use
Such a plan insures fresh soil and grow
ing green stun. and has much to do with
keering the stock in the best physical
condition.
almost exclusively by artificial methods
From the incubators the youngsters go to
the brooder house. and when weaned are
moved to colony houses and placed on tho
range. Here they >-lain. roaming at
VIII over the fields and through the pine