The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-14
By PROF. F. II. sToNEBURN

HN the poultry business the productive
 E units, the individual hens and chick
 "A ems, are small and have comparatively little income bringing power The chance of making a large profit depends upon ones ability to so manage large num- Der of units as to make each bring in a small profit. Stated in another way. the profits from a poultry business are the sum of number of small profits. and the losses, the sum of number of small losses.
 This leads right up to the fact that the successful - financial successful = poultrymen are those who recognize the value of the unit, who manage their fiocks as to prevent excessive mortality, to secure the greatest number of eggs or the largest gain in weight, who sell their products in the most valuable form and at the right time to bring good prices.
 Marketing the Males
 One very important problem has to do with the marketing of the cockerels, which form about 50 per cent of the chicks matched each year. But few of these are needed for breeding purposes; the rest must be turned into table poultry. This condition prevails on poultry plants . and general forms in all parts or the Iountry, and consequently millions or these malt birds must be disposed of in th q. period between midsummer and the late fall, when all focks are rounded and placed in winter quarters. Thus, 1t happens that there is likely to be big prices rule lower than at any other sea- son of the year.
 Much of this stock Is quite mature and has reached the stage where muscles are hard and tough. Of course, the de- mand for table birds of this quality Is relatively small and quotations are made Accordingly.
 The progressive poultryman readily ap- preciates the fact that there is no money to be made in selling on this low market in competition with the great mass of stock reared with little care and at low cost on the general farm Therefore he aims to dispose of his surplus males early in the season in the form of broilers if the market is right, or else caponzes and holds them until the fall glut is past and prices again reach a satisfactory level. The males from the early matched broods reach the desired broiler weights before the big supply becomes available, and consequently they may be disposed of for this purpose to best advantage. As a matter of fact there is more actual profit secured in selling them in this form than in holding them until they reach heavier weight. They are thus pushed off the plant to the great advantage of the rest of the stock which, consequently, has more room in the houses and on the range and makes better growth. Further, the poultryman is relieved of the necessi- ty of feeding and caring for them. From every point of view, therefore, it pays to market this stock early
 The desired weights vary in different sections of the country and according to season, ranging from slightly over one pound to two pounds each, live weight. Each producer will naturally keep in touch with the local situation and act &C., cordingly All broiler stock should be specially fed for a few weeks before dresseing During this time the birds should be kept quiet and comfortable, not permitted to take much exercise. Naturally, the ration should contain considerable corn ana anl- nal food and the mash mixture may be fed in moist condition as in this form it seems to induce more rapid growth. If skim milk is available this may profitably be fed literally to the fattening stock since it increases weight and gives a finish which cannot be secured in any other way.
 Convenient to Sell Alive
 In certain sections where poultry buyers are well established the broilers can usually be sold alive to good advantage nis lfnmeulateiy relieves the producer of the labor of dressing the birds-no slight task-and of the risk of loss in shipping during hot weather
 If dressing is necessary, the stock should be dry picked. Where the haul to market is short, there will be little danger of spelling if the birds are thoroughly cooled before shipment. Other wise shipments should be made in re- frigerator cars or else ice packed
 It seems almost unnecessary to all that the birds should be starved for at least IF hours before dressing in order that the crops may be free from food The