Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-16

The beginner should start with pure
bred stock The initial expense will be
a little more than for mongrels. but it
will cost no more to raise them, the re-
turns will be larger and the satisfaction
greater When the start is made in the
fall or late summer it is no doubt best
to use mature fowls, purchasing a trio
or pen of the chosen breed and raise
the chicks from them in the natural way
After January it is not economical to
purchase fowls, as breeders will have
their pens mated for the season and will
not take out good birds unless they can
secure high price for them. In the
spring the start is best made with eggs
or baby chicks. If eggs are the choice
purchase one or moro sittings and as
many broody hens: the latter can be
secured of farmers or poultry keepers
who are usually glad to get rid of them
at a small advance over the price of
market poultry. They need not be Of
pure blood, but should be of fair size,
so as to take good care of the eggs De-
eide on the number of hens YOU will set
and place an order for eggs, with the
understanding they are to he shipped as
soon as you notify the seller your hens
are ready.
When the broody hens arrive, have
warm nests made in rather deep boxes.
Fill the boxes part full Of earth or sifted
coal ashes and after following out the
nest cover it with plenty of short straw,
hay or other nesting material. The nests
should be in a we'll protected place. if the
weather is cold. A small nclosure should
be built around it and in this a supply of
! food and water kept. 4 convenient ar
rangement for sitting hens Is a brood
| coop with wire-covered yard, such as are
sold by poultry supply dealers. The nest
| Is made in the coop part and feed. water
and dust bath are in the yard. Put the
! hens on the nests at night, and as soon
as they have settled down to the business
of sitting. order the eggs. If they sit on
| china eggs for several days, awaiting the
arrival of the Matching eggs, it will do
no harm After they have learned to
| come off and go on the nests they will
require no further attention save to see
| that they arc supplied with feed and
water. When the hatch comes off, the
nest can be removed and the coop carried
out on the lawn where the hen and chicks
are allowed to occupy it, After the chicks
are weaned the hens can he used as
wanted for Sunday dinners. and in that
way will fully repay their frs, cost.
Some prefer the incubator to hens, even
for Matching a comparatively small num-
her of chicks. A small incubator is not
livery expensive. and eggs from pure bred
fowls can often he secured of neighhors
at a nominal cost or at a slight advance
over the price OF market eggs. Be par
ticular about the quality of tho eggs
YOU get as on them will depend the re-
suit; if YOU use common store eggs there
are not likely to be any results
! Still another and excellent way is tC
buy baby chicks, In most large towns
| there are those who make a business OF
Matching and selling chicks, but if the
breed you desire cannot be obtained neal
home they can be ordered from dis
| lance, for baby chicks can be so pa ok &c
that they will 80 safely by express fol
a considerable distance. Well-hatchet
chicks will make q Journey requiring two
or three days in safety and arrive a
their destination strong and we'll.
The chicks must be kept warm. and fol
this a brooder is necessary There are
great many kinds Of breeders suited Il
every purpose. from the colony or outdoo,
brooder, helpful where one wishes 10 rails,
less than 100 chicks and has no sui.abl'