The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02
OVERCOME CALENDAR
AND DICTATE PRICES
Winter Grown Chickens Reach
Market When Demand
Is Greatest.
A MASSACHUSETTS, IDEA
Has Been Adopted by Poultry
Raisers in Other Parts
Of Country.

these arc valued at about S25 900. 900.
The uninformed often think that this
great output comes largely from the spe-
cialty poultry FIRMS or poultry plants
which are TO be found In practically all
sections OF tho country but as a matter
OF fact this IL not the case. On tho
contrary the great bulk OF our market
poultry products are produced on tho six
and half millions OF general farms,
upon most OF which are 10 be found focks
containing from hfty to several hundred
fowls
In tho majority of oases thess nooks
have the range OF tho farm and are
cared for. wholly or in part, according TO
tho pressure OF other farm work, by tho
women and children of tho household. OF
course the results secured In number OF
eggr produced and percentage OF chicks
reared do not compare favorably with
those secured by exclusive poultry farm
ers but tho cost OF production 10 low
owing to the fact that the labor item Ii
not considered and the cost OF feed 10
greatly reduced because the birds pick
up much OF their living In barnyard.
orchard and field. And while the surplus
poultry products from each farm. those
available for sale after the family has
been supplied. is often small. when we
consider tho millions OF hocks which are
contributing to the great stream OF table
eggs and poultry which Is flowing stead
fly to our great consuming centres II Is
at once apparent that the aggregate
amount from such sources Is enormous.
or course the major part of this output
comes during the natural breeding and
rearing season. when hens lay heavily
.axs.Vt dsv ID and " q n
they sit and rear their young. Obviously
this means that eggs are most plentiful
and cheapest during ihe spring and early
summer months. and chickens during the
fall and early winter. Quotations average
lowest during these periods and mount
upward during the time Of shortage. Were
II not for tNe perfection of the cold stor-
age system It would be Impossible 20 meet
the demand for eggs and table poultry
during certain seasons ~ the year.
! The poultry1nan who can successfully
overcome tho handicap of the calendar
and have plenty OF fresh cggs for sale
during tho fall and winter and -of. ineated
chickens during the spring and carly sum
! ner can almost dictate prices. There is a
certain class OF 'rade which demands
fresh goods at all seasons and is willing
and able to pay well for them Naturally
this gives the business pouliryman his big
/ opportunity, since he IL called upon n
meet little or no compctition from the gen
eral farmer. who follows natures schedule
/ IN his poul.rv ono ration. Matching his
chicks in the spring and marketing them
in the fan when they have reached suit
able weight.
\ little group Of poultry men near Bos
ton reverse this plan and have demon
, strated 20 the fraternity hat there IL a
: nice pron' TO be made from the growing
( ~ chicks IN the winter season. They
T. hatch the stock IN the fall push IL alors
1 for rapid growth and sell Il during March
r April. May and June. when he market IS
bare OF fresh killed poultry
Though this idea. originated In eastern
Massachusetts. md the greater part OF
the output Of high grade winter chickens
II still grown In that section, poultry
D men I'm other localities are now success
( fully adopting this plan. 4 friend OF tho
a writer living IN New Hampshire took NJ
, this work n few years ago and to-day Is
tho proud owner Of beautiful. fully
equipped farm. which has been paid fol
out ~ the pronts from his winter grown
. White plymouth Rock roasters
( At this time the Boston market pay,
Q tho best prices FOR stock OF the desired
a quality But the came scarcity OF fresh
:. ronsters exists IN all other large markets
. and there would seem 10 be no goo
reason for thinking that they could no
use at good quotations the output o
n farms located within reasonable shippnl
. distance Of them. Certain II 10 that tn,
: or course these out OF season chick,
- must be hatched and reared by artncia
= methods. But most poultry farms ar
I. fully equipped with incuhators and brood
Il ers, and this equipment Is usually idle
q good part OF tho year Might Il not b,
=, good business 10 keep this busy durin,
y tho winter and SO bring I'm some prof
+" which would not otherwise he secured"
J. Since spring roasters NJ large si2c ar,
~ most IN demand, one must make use o
j. the meat and general purpose breeds II
r this work The White Plymouth Rocl
- supplnntod tho Light Rrahma. which wa
. generally used decade ago Som
. growers stil remain loyal 10 the oil
u timc fayorltc. either pure or crossed wit
n some other breeds OF sufficient size. !
n these kinds are not available one ma
u, a. least test out The plan with any O
a the Rocks, Wyandottes or Orpingtons
The usual hatcning time is from IN
last OF August 10 the first ~ October
Chicks Matched during this period reac
l. market maturity At the desired dates
80 one Of the trying problems 10 he solve
has to do with securing eggs OF high 10,
Il t.lty. A. this season fresh eggs are {
y strong demand NJ high prices, and II IN
IA, hatch is poor the egg Cost per chick r,f
,r high IN the roast"r section near Rosto
:, THIS situation has caused certain poultr,
~ men TO specialize IN the prlductlou r
" hatch9g eggs oc the desired quality. whi,,
30 sell reRd.ly NJ i've cents. or slightly NOR
30 each. Vhs oftcn proves a bic sid
10 limo for market egg producers
I'd After 'h" chicks are hatched they n,
A. given careful attention to the end tn,
"a mor'allN may he kept down 10 the lowe,
y" rate aud steady rapid growth secure
~ II they can b" given a good start befo,
be the unfayorablc weather sets in the bait
I'd * half won
I'd Many growers experience difficulty