Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-04
Successful Egg Producer
Analyses Causes of Fail
ure and Points Way to Sue
cess; Advises Caution
100 Hens Sufficient at Be-
ginning; Only One Breed
Should Be Kept at the Out
set
BY Michael X. Boyer
Poultry Editor of The Farm Journal
COPYRIGHT, 1915.

COPYRIGHT, 1915.
The poultry industry offers many
opportunities to the amateur, and this
fact has caused many to engage in 1t
for livelihood without due considera-
ton. MFR. Boyer, who has had many
years of successful experience, tells
what to do and what to avoid In es-
tablishing a poultry business.
TIME poultry business affords a
good occupation, IL it is properly
- conducted. Too many make the
mistake of engaging in it on large
scale, without sufficient preparation.
The amateur who intends to establish
himself on a firm foundation should
start in small way and enlarge his
plant as facilities and knowledge will
permit.
The poultry business calls for care
full work. 1t requires close attention
every day, for 365 days in the year,
and from early to late. Unless a man
possesses grit he will soon tire of this
sameness. 1t becomes monotonous.
Pluck and grit are necessary.
These Are the Ones Who Fail
The men who fail are those who
start on borrowed capital, or who
must ask credit for feed and running
expenses.
OR, those who are careless in their
work, never doing it on time
putting it off until it is too late.
OR, those who start on a big scale
before they have had a chance to
gain experience. The more ex-
perienced a man becomes the cas-
Ter will be his work. and the
surer his success When a man
is inexperienced he does not know
how to meet trouble.
OR, those who start on rented
ground. When a man rents he
generally puts up make-shift
buildings, as he does not care to
risk good substantial houses upon
ground that does not belong to
him. Even if his landlord has
agreed that he' may move the
buildings any time he vacates,
there will be more or less dam
age from racking in moving the
structures.
OR, those who lack system, which
will mean a waste of time, feed,
room, and everything necessary
for good results. Work that is
Systematically performed will
bring about good results. There
must be good plans and good
rules, and they must be followed
to the letter.
The man who knows nothing what
ever about the business, and then
plunges in 1t on a scale sufficient to
keep veteran busy, Is the man who,
sooner or later, will discover an "ele-
phant on his hands,"
100 Hens Sufficient at Start
There may. be a disadvantage in
starting smalle-a disadvantage so far
as income Is concerned-but a decided
advantage in making a more firm
foundation. The man who starts with
100 hens, who gives them the best of
care, watches all the details, gets to
understand their likes and dislikes,
and makes a careful study of the
business, can do considerable hatch
ing the following Spring, by hens, SC
that he may at least be able to double
the size of the plant, besides having
surplus cockerels and pullets for sale
| in market.
! For the first few years he should
rely on hens to do the Matching and
brooding. BY giving them close OBJ.
servation he may pick up many valu-
able facts that will aid him later in
the use of incubators and brooders.
Egg Farming the Right Basis
Make egg farming the basis When.
ever hen becomes broody set her
| Sell all surplus eggs each week After
the chicks are grown to salable size
| pick out the pullets to be retained fol
next years laying. and market the
! cockerels. In this way there will bt
an income from the start-not large
but sufficient at least to pay for the
| feed
The following year, with an in,
| creased number of layers, there woult
| be a chance to have enough over tn,
expense to start salary for the
| owner.
1t will take about three years to ge
the business down to the living stage
where the man starts without any ex
| perience. He must serve an appren
| ticeship, and 1t is right that It is so
for II poultry culture opened up al
avenue on which any and everybod,
could succeed, regardless of expert
ence. IL would not be long befor,
prices would take a mighty tumble
and there would be no money in it.