Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-07
SMALL BOYS EXPERIENCE
IN POULTRY BUSINESS
some Things Tint Are Worth Lenrning.
Things That Have Keen
Learned.
nY WILSON FORD.

ni WILSON FORD.
IN the many occupations OF the world,
All have their pitfalls. which should
be watched, ana poultry raising is no
rNccptiou.
Perhaps some may be Interested as
e." how ! mad. by start in the poultry
business. Joined the Trinity Poultry
club in the spring Of 1913 under the
iutciaSc OF j. W. KlnShornc. govern
, Incnt expert sont out TO orgunIZe and
coach these clubs
This being the end OF my second and
anal year IN the poultry club Gage dis
u"aIfyinGJ. viii cnJcavor to give
my fellow club members some Of my
experience while "A member.
FOR my stock OF birds ! selected the
barred Plymouth Rocks. because for a
general purpose breed they cannot be
'uuil"d. being quick growers, good
WINTER layers and they attain a large
SIZE
rhc pou!iry-hnus is just az import
iui as the selection OF the breed Con
'iruc, your housc SO II may face south,
ana above all avoid drafts ana damp
ness, because many contagious diseases
arc caused by these two factors. Ny
house Is "A shed roo! building thirty
feet Ions aud eight feet wide. facing
south, and If divided into two pens.
with wire Two feet wide. in front TO
let Natures purifier in.
Next comes the feeding of the flock
II takes a healthy, wcll-fcd hen &c
produce egg. but above all do not
nay" them too fat. TO avoid them get
tinS too fat, throw your grain In litter,
"hich should u" composed OF wheat
straw or leaves. make the fowl scratch
for II, thus taking exercise while cat
ing. good feed for cg;: production
IS one composed OF equal parts. by
measure, Of wheat, corn ana oats. Ia
winter warm mash should be fed
N tho morning. Keep your hoppcrs
hilcd with oyster shells. grit and char
coal AZ all times.
When my hens become 'broody" 1
move them 10 quiet brood house.
where they VIII not be disturbed by
other fo"ls. aud here they are given
special care during the hatch!nr period
"cinS fed chiefly on wheat lana corn.
After my chicks are Matched ] re-
move them TO nice dry coop. The
llrst week OF the chicks life is Il cri;i-
cal period They should not be fed
the first day. for the reason that mature
provides a store OF nutrients within
tho chick which IS intended for It's
use during the iirst twenty or twenty
four hours. Probably tho best diet
then Is "A mixture OF !ire cracked grains
Fresh water IS absolutely necessary,
and should be supplied often
All the boys and girls OF Virginia
Who possibly can should join the
poultry club. because !, gives them 3,
better knowledge Of the value and I'M
portance Of tho poultry Industry and
the value OF marketing a frst-class
uniform product II also teaches better
methods uf caring for poultry and
.rgs
Ny two Years in the club were quitc
success Tn" hrst year | stamped
record OF being champion poultry
raiser of Virginia. Ny reward for this
was weeks free trip TO Washing
ton, where drew my diploma as cham
p!on poultry raiser under the new
methods Last year won n trip IN
the beautiful! Caycrus Of I.uray. offered
by Mr.. Dyer. OF Petersburg
Before giving some Of my records
for last year wish 70 thank Mr.
iiinEhornc for what ne has done for
me In the poultry-club work and may
the club work. I am only rcgrett!ng
that cannot be in the race this year
with the other members. My matching
record was as follows
Eggs set, 40. tested on the four
tccnth DAY. Infcrt!le and dead. A.: eggs
remaining, So
Rrood!ns record-Number chicks
hatch"d, So: number died, ~ number
raised, II: cost OF feed. equipment
labor. eggs for Matching and breeding
stock. $3.50 selling price. market
md breeding stock etc. s7s42: proG
SiI62
The pront was not million dollar
proposition, hut II was profit all the
sane. and doubt IL bigger one could
nave been made on small an in
Ncstmcnt. unless that investment had
been made on Virginia chick ems