Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-18
False Economy to Buy Stock
Simply Because it Is
Cheap; Good Birds Are
More Profitable
Several Varieties Are Well
Adapted For the Home
Flock, Providing Both
Eggs, Broilers and Roast
erS
BY J. Harry Wolsicffer
Poultry Editor Lecturer and Author
COPYRIGHT, 1915.


This is an ideal time to start keep
ing poultry, says tine practical poul-
tryman whose advice to beginners is
given here. He advises care in the
selection of the stock, so that only
fully matured pulIets, ready to lay
through the winter, will be obtained
and he makes suggestions regarding
the care of the flock.
Eggs-strictly fresh, fresh or stor-
age-are high in price every Fall and
winter. Often it is impossible to OBJ
tain new-laid eggs, even at top prices
and eggs that are offered as strictly
fresh" are frequently days, or even
weeks old.
TIME difficulty of securing eggs
known to be new-laid, at a price
within reach of the ordinary
purse, leads thousands every year to
keep poultry to supply the home table.
Now is an ideal time to start. Almost
every one with a little space and few
minutes spare time night and morn
ing can turn table scraps and grain
into eggs at a cost considerably below
that of the market price of eggs.
Buy Only Matured Pullets
In choosing the stock for the home
flock the beginner should be careful
to select only fully matured pullets, in
order to insure a steady yield of eggs
throughout the Fall and winter; and
he should see that they are from a
breed that is known to lay well in win
ter. At the same time he should
choose a breed that will furnish meat
for the table, so that the surplus cock
l., Ia,-e ,,l hot
the hens, when supplanted by younger
birds, may be used for roasting OIL
stewing.
The home flock bird should be an
all-around fowl and these desired
qualities are found in the heavier
breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks
Wyandottes. Rhode Island Reds, Or
All of these are hardy, stand confine-
ment well, will lay during the coldest
weather and mature early for thei1
weight. There are many varieties that
have one or more desirable qualities
and no one breed has all the goo6
none is a better general purpose va
riety than those named. Their char
acteristics are much the same
Plymouth Rocks mature early and
produce brown eggs of good size
When properly grown and from gooo
strain they are beautiful birds. The
amateur may have his choice as tc
color, as the varieties include the
Barred, White, Buff Silver Penciled
Partridge and Columbian. The Barred
variety is most popular, and may be
seen in largest numbers at the poul-
try shows.
Wyandottes weigh one pound less
than Plymouth Rocks, generally ma
ture a little earlier, and lay equally
well, and make excellent broilers
Here too, the beginner has a wide
range for choice of colors and mark
ings, there being White, Silver
Golden, Buff, Black, Partridge, Silver
Penciled and Columbian Wyandottes
Rhode Island Reds are popular
and nearly everyone admires their
deep, rich red plumage. They, too
are good layers of brown eggs during
broilers and roasters, and are hardy
and vigorous
The Orpington has fine meat, with
white skin. 1t is becoming more popu-
lar each year. Bluffs, Black, White
and Blue are the varieties to choose
from, with the Buff and Whites most
commonly grown.
Light Brahmas are an old variety
again beginning to boom. They are
unusually large, but when properly
cared for they are good layers of large
brown eggs. While they do not ma
ture as early as some other breeds,
they are worthy of a place in the
home flock.
Sussex are new to the American
public, but have jumped into favor
because of their utility qualities.
Choose Breed You Like Best
The beginner will succeed best with