Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-01
GOOD POULTRY IS
ALWAYS CHEAPER
Make-Shift Stock, Houses and other
Equipment Usually Lead to
Failure.

Too many people begin the poultrS
business on cheap" scale. Anything
purchased simply because it is
cheap" is a bad mistake Men OF
the 'make-shift" calibre are, as
rule, the unsuccessful ones.
1t is always wise to buy the best,
and, rightly measured, the best is the
cheapest in the long run. Michael X.
Boyer has found that in nearly every
case the man who persists in advertis
ing the poultry don't pay" began
with cheap, poorly constructed houses
purchased common stock because
they could be gotten at table-fowl
prices, and fed them ON grains no;
calculated to make them productive,
as the price for the proper articles
| food cost too much"
Beginning with the houses: 1t is i'm.
portant that they be built of good
strong material, well rooted, and
roomy. The cheap houses are not only
constructed with poor lumber, but, in
| order to cut down the cost are made
narrow, contracted quarters, allowing
| insufficient room and very poor venti-
lation. Then comes the question of
stock it must be cheap. If pure blood
ed stock costs two dollars per head,
and common dunghills only one dol
lar per head. it is reasoned that "a
man is fool to pay two dollars for
hen when the Same money will buy
two hens-and hens are hens, you
| know!o
Occasionally we find some excel1en,
layers among common hens, but they
are exceptions rather than the rule
F, On the other hand. purebreds are the
result of careful mating for partic-
ular object. Ian other words, one
wishing to establish strain of extra
good laying stock, will each year
carefully make his selections with
that object in view. Each generation
will then, naturally, follow in the
line This, however, cannot be the
case with mongrel birds, owing To
the promiscuous mixing of bloods.
Therefore, the thoroughbred or
purebred fowl is cheaper at two dol
lars per head than is the mongrel at
one dollar for the reason that we
have guaranteed qualities.
Another point of cheapness is in
the feed. What common expires
sion it is to say: "That will do for
chicken feed" meaning some musty
or damaged grain. There could be
no worse mistake. To make eggs
not only calls for food suitable for
that purpose, but it must be in a
of viz in, nnf
The dairyman would not expect a
good flow of milk from his cows if
he fed cheap, inferior ration. 1t is
the same with eggs. Good material
is required fbr good results.
How often we find beginners start
ing out with dunghills, giving the ex-
cuse that they first want to test the
business before investing consider.
able money. What capital they have
they want to stretch as far as it with
go. They intend in the future to.
dispose of these mongrels and keep
nothing but pure fowls, but they HARD
ly ever get beyond the mongrel state.
Once mongrels always mongrels Bet
ter invest the amount of available
cash in so guaranteed fowls than pur
chase with it double the number OF
worthless stuff
Begin ON a small scale--limited &C
cording to cash and knowledge--but
let that start be strictly on the basis
OF quality The safest start is made
with good, substantial buildings, guar
anteed purebred stock, and the purest
and best of feed. Then gradually from
on the same basis, and the industry
will be established on firm and safe
| foundation.