Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-14

THE beginning is half the WHOLE" as
an old Greek adage says. AS We trace
back the failures of several undertake
ings in poultry culture with which we
are familiar the conclusion forced upon
us with striking emphasis is that most,
II not all, of them are due to poor starts
Fortunately, however, a poultryman
is permitted to make a new start every
twelve months. The start. however.
does not coincide with the beginning Of
the calendar year. but may he considered
as beginning about this time; that Is,
the poutryman's year begins when he
places his young stock in laying quar-
ters His success depends upon the
amount OF the winter product. and that
in turn depends upon the condition of
his stock in the early fall. which is with
out question the most critical time for
the commercial poultryman.
Errors OF judgment and negligence in
the care Of stock result not only in loss
Of profits little later, but often in en-
dangering health Of the flock as we'll
Even II large losses by death are not
incurred. production Is curtailed, cares
are multiplied and expenses increased &C
cordingly. Under such conditions the
ed.
DANGER OF DISEASES NOW.
The subject Of diseases Is particularly
appropriate at this season. since they
are more apt to be prevalent now than
at any other time. The owner of a
healthy flock is usually pestercd at this
time by neighbors who are unable to
avoid the usual troubles Of the season
and want to know how he cures colds.
roup or canker; how he kills lice or
mites. and how he makes his hens lay.
These and similar questions are pro-
pounded to him daily. while the truth Is
that the successful poultryman cures
little, but prevents much. Cures mean
increased labor and reduced production;
prevention means reduced labor and in
creased production
To the poultryman. starting the new
year right means starting the fall laying
flock right. First, the chicks must have
been Matched at the proper time, as late
Matched chicks are more subject to dis
ease than those Matched earlier, which
are consequently more mature and more
hardy. Again. chicks must be grown
upon proper range and with good care.
HOUSE THE CHICKS EARLY.
To prevent colds and roup house the
chicks early. Do not walt until the
frost is biting the ground and the cold
winds almost deplume the chicks in the
field. In order that the conditions to
which the range chick has become ac-
customed may not be changed too
abruptly, keep the south side OF the
house as open as possible at first.
Because they are most tender. house
the smallest chicks first; because chicks
are wild and tmid, house n few at a
time. Those that are housed first be-
come accustomed to their quarters and
are examples for those housed later,
teaching them to roost rather than to
crowd In the corners. which leads to
overheatng during the night, followed
by a chill when the fowls separate in
the COOL crisp air of the morning. over
crowding when first housed is one of the
most frequent causes of colds and roup
and the one that perhaps is most often
overlooked.
HOUSING CHICKS PROPERLY.
Housing chicks properly means more
than merely affording suitable shelter