The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-02-27
POULTRY TALKS
MATCHING AND BROODING

ems. This is an important question.
Great strides have been made in this
line since the days of our fathers and
mothers, when they allowed the hen
to have her own way and shift for her
self.
If the hens are left to themselves you
need not look for chicks until the
weather is quite warm, for the young
chick stands a poor show when the
snow is on the ground, or the Their
mometer looks toward zero
It is very important that the hatch
comes off fairly early, for two reasons;
first, in order that the pullets may be
we'll matured in the fall for early win
ter laying. This is very important.
The pullets should begin to lay before
the cold weather comes, or it is hard to
start them laying afterwards during
the cold. A pullet, if well cared for,
and if from good laying strain, should
begin laying when from five to seven
months old. The smaller breeds begin
laying earlier than the larger ones.
If too early Matched they may mott
in the fall and that will interfere with
their winter laying. April and May
are considered the best months for Leg
horns, and the small breeds, and little
earlier for the Rocks and Reds and the
larger kinds.
It is of great advantage to hatch
early also on account of the cockerels.
About half of the chicks will probably
be cockerels. The most of these will
have to be disposed of as broilers, or
fries when about two months old. Early
in the spring and summer the price is
much better for them than later on.
This feature of the business is worth
looking after Often one can get as
much for 2-lb. chicken early in the
season as he can for full-grown bird
in the fall, or winter. He thus saves
the feed and care and risk of losing
them.
Early Matched chickens are worth
much more if sold as baby chicks, and
they are much better for show purpos-
es, as they are matured. Hatch early
if you are prepared to care for the little
fellows when they come out. Many
make failures here because they are not
prepared to take proper care Of the
young chicks. That means a warm
house and generally warm brooder.
1t doesn't pay to hatch chickens and
then let them die for want of care.
In order to get good chickens that
will live and thrive we must begin back
before the eggs are set.
THE STOCK MUST BE GOOD.
Poor hens will give poor eggs, and
poor eggs will produce poor chicks, or
none at all. The breeding hens and the
males must be in good condition, healthy
and vigorous Like produces like"
The hens should be we'll fed and not
forced to lay by too stimulating diet.
It is generally believed that hens are
better for breeding than pullets, though
most of our poultry men use their early
Matched and we'll matured pullets with
good results. If pullets are used it is
we'll to use an older male bird with
them. See that the hens are kept in
good health, by giving them good feed
and plenty of exercise and good, clean,
we'll ventilated quarters.
CARE OF THE EGGS.
If your stock is in good condition, the
eggs will be fertile. In cold weather
the eggs must be gathered often so that
they will not get chilled. It is best
to set them as soon as possible after
they are laid. This cannot always be
done, as they must be kept for awhile
until enough are gathered to fill the in
cubator, or until the hen is in the no.
tion of setting herself. Eggs may be
kept two weeks and then hatch fairly
well, or even longer, but they should be
kept in cool place at temperature of
about SO degrees and should be turned
every day.
INCUBATOR VS.. THE HEN
The old hen is being supplanted by
the wooden hen" for Matching. She
is not likely, however, to lose her job,
or place in laying. Man, by his arts
and inventions is intruding into every
sphere of nature, it would seem. But
he reaches his limits and cannot cross