The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23
Comparatively Few Plants Are
Devoted Exclusively to
This Line.
DEMAND NOT SUPPLIED
NJ REESE ". HICKS.
Mansger International Poultry
Farms. Browne Mills, n. j., and
Former President Of the
American Poultry Assn.

always great and the supply never sum
cient.
Some breeds are better thar others
for this purpose and 1t Is important to
make a right selection. Some common
mistakes that can be easily avoided are
pointed out and alternatives suggested.
There are comparatively few plants
devoted exclusively to raising broilefs
and roasters for market. The majority
Of poultry plants are devoted to produce
ing eggs for market or breeding for eH-
hibition stock. These turn only their
Thus II IL that the majority OF the
broilers and roasters that reach the
market 20 as a b~y-product Of the 81
farms and OF the exhibition breeding
farms inc the greatest source, the aver
age American farm. The plants that
do cater to the broiler business are
mainly those which have worked up a
special private trade. The majority of
these plants that make q speciality OF
the broiler business make II a poin: TO
hatch out the eggs intended for broilers
early IN the winter. some as early as
November and some In December. as the
broilers bring better prices In the early
spring n late winter months than at
any Oun0r Umo OF tho year.
Three Glasses Of B~roiiers.
Broilers may Be divided into three
clashes: squad broiiers. spring broilers
or friers and largo broilers or small
roastes.
SQUAD broilers have been in demand
only for a few years and have become
quite a delicacy in the centres OF popu-
lation. They should weigh from three
quarters Of q pound to one and one-
quarter pounds. The best average II.
perhaps. q pound. II they weigh over
one and o~ne-ouarter pounds they belong
In the spring broller class or friers.
These may 20 al high as two pounds.
The largest broilers are from two TO
three pounds. ANY hroilers over three
pounds should be classed as "roasters.'
as they are too large TO brotl success
fully. The roasters run from three
pounds to the sjze OF full grown fowls.
often as high as ten or twelve pounds.
However. the largest demand is for
~roasters that weigh three and one-half
TO hve pounds. The soft roaster" Is n
term given to any young. tender fowl
to be used for roasting. They should
be young and tender. n they bring
the best prices on the market. They
usually run In age from six to Mint
months.
The age At which a fowl can be mar
keted In the var!ou classes OF broslers
and roasters depends very much on the
breed as we'll as how they have been
pushed along. II is very important that
they be marketed as early'as possible.
because the prices are better early. and
in addition. the longer they are KEEP,
the more they cost. M with some vari-
cites they are liable TO become "stringy''
and tough.
Much depends also on the breed used
for broilers and roasters. II is essential
that the breed he OF a quick growth
and develop rapidly. In America. vel.
by tho majority OF markets. This means
that the varieties known as the Amer
can varieties" such as Plymouth Rocks.
Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds,
mako the best roasters as we'll as broi'.
ers. For the large roastcrs and soft
roasters, the Light Brahma has long
been a favorite. owing TO its large
growth and the fact that II holds the
tenderness OF It's flesh until II is well ad-
vanced toward maturity. White Ply
mout Rocks and white wyandotte. are
also used by some farms for soft roast
ers. For squad broilers by far the
largest proportion are young cockerels.
mainly Leghorns. that come from the
commercial esq farms,
When the Matching season 10 over
some farms take advantage OF the low
price OF eggs and load their i%ncubators
that are later used for b~roilers for the
hroller market, These late chicks do
not require any different treatment from
earlier Matched chicks. except that Of
shade In climates where there In extreme
heat In the middle OF the day. Generally
the later Matched chicks grow rapidly
10 h broiler stage, and as grain Ii
Usually cheaper at this time OF tho year
,han any other. these matches usually
awe broilers that can be produced at q
lower cost than any other time OF the
year. II In true that the market 4.
higher earlier. but later hroilers make
GOOD Allers. especially when one 10 rails
iIg poultry on a small scale
Young chicks should not be fed for the
tirst forty-eight hours, whether Of early
10 later matches. After that they should
bn fed a little oatmeal or bread crumbs.
owing to the high price OF oats this
year n little bread crumbs or a good.
commercial chick feed should he given
n" first few days, They should he fed
fYc or six times daily, n little n: each
time, so that they will clean Il up
alickly, After they are four or FIVE
days old they should have mash. com
posed of cornmeal. bran and m,ddl,ngS
OF low grade -four, equal parts of each.
After they are ten days old 10 per
cent. meat scrap should be added 70
The mixture and the cornmealI increased
30 per cent. This Is for growing broil-
ers for the market, and this course o!
feeding Is designed to fatten them.
When the Young bro!lers or pastors
are within ten days OF the size when
hey are to be sold on the market they
should be confined In a smaller pen for
fattening purposes Before this they
should he given TIE same treatment,
are, range and attention as the other
growing chicks, but II is important tina
the last ten days or two weeks of their
lives he given to fattcning them. Ry
the term "fattening" Is not always
meant putting on surplus fattening sub
stance, but making the lean meat I'll
with fat. so that II will be delicate and
toothsome.
All poultry should be fattened for mar.
ket, as ii is usually a waste OF money
70 allow the produce dealer to buy fowls
at low prices, and hen make the quail
ny better by fattcning, 1t is especially
important tina they he fattened where
they are dressed by the producer. and
then sold 10 a private trade. The length
OF time required to fatten n fowl de-
Ponds on the age OF the fowl, time OF
ear care and feed, as well as the
breed aud kind of fowl, The hest re-
suits are obtained VIXEN they are fat
tened for ten days or two weeks. Young
fowls make better hut slower gains than
the Leghorrs and smaller breeds. The
ap,aIler hrada ahnnll mot ha fot,,ol