Milford chronicle., 1916-12-01

\ As this is true, it is also true that every
> breeder who aims to get a profit out Of
his birds will work diligently for large
egg yield during this particular season,
when eggs are only to be had at premium
The question of eggs will indeed be an
all-important one during the coming win
ter, owing to many conditions which tend
to shoot up the prices of all commodities.
Even now, before the winter season
has gotten fairly under way, eggs, that
. is fresh eggs, are selling in the retail
markets for fifty cents per dozen and if
the statement of commission men and
others close to the situation is to be ac-
cepted with any degree of credence, they
will soon be bringing one dollar per dozen.
While this may be said to be nothing
short of exaggeration, yet it would not
be surprising if this highwater mark were
reached before the close of the present
year.
Every winter eggs take big jump in
price, and while the other forms of food
stuffs are soaring, it may be expected
that eggs will go up in proportion.
Now, as never before, it is up to the
breeder to get as large a production as
possible during the coming months, in
order to realize proft-and this is the
aim of small as we'll as the larger breeders.
There are several important matters to
consider in getting big winter egg yield,
and to thereby put your hocks on a pay
ing basis Almost any old kind of bird
of any breed will lay during the spring |
and summer, and while this may prove |
of an advantage to the man who aims to
supply eggs for Matching and has a we'll
established business yet it is of practi
cally no value to the man who deals In
commercial eggs.
Eggs naturally take a decided drop
during the spring and summer, when
they are bought up by the cold storage
plants and soaked away" until winter,
then sold at an advanced figure. The
man who produces eggs during the spring
and summer, to the exclusion of winter
eggs, no matter how great the output,
will rarely ever show an increase on the
profit side of the ledger.
The bulk of the profit realized from =.
the sale of eggs goes to the man who can
successfully produce winter eggs, and to
this end we should all work.
The first thing of importance in the
production of winter eggs is to get stan L
dard birds, because mongrels rarely ever q
amount to anything and are only a bur S
den to any plant Once having stocked o
up" with birds of standard breed, rec S
ognized as egg layers, their care and at n
.entiOn is of vital importance. l
With proper care and attention, which
includes among other things proper feed
ng, proper housing, exercise and the =,
leeping down of lice, it is comparatively :.
Easy to get a good egg yield. But, by a y
good egg yield, do not wish to be un- :,
lerstood as saying that the maximum can y
,e reached, but the yield will be such as "
o produce good profit and offset the
osses during the rest of the year.
Eggs will be considerably more expen- ca
i've TO produce during the present win OF
er owing to the big jump in the price of
eed, but then, it is to he remembered
hat the prices from the sale of the eggs
his year will far exceed those of previous :
mes so that the profit should be even
reater than formerly.
In the production of winter eggs it is
D be assumed that you have been sue
essful with early matches and that the
were kept growing constantly
uring the summer and are now ready to
roduce. If you have lost the opportu-
ity of getting your birds out early, how
yer, it is still possible that you might
increase your winter yield by
roperly handling your older birds. But,
)r winter laying, the younger birds or
ullets are far more valuable than old
ems held over from previous years.
I do not desire to cast reflections upon
ny particular breeds of poultry as not
eing suitable for winter laying, but it is
known that some breeds are
atter for this particular function than
hers, and for that reason 1 think it best
give my views.
There are many persons who hoot at
lie idea of utilizing any of the smaller
what are termed "eggs breeds for
inter laying, giving as the reason for
is, the excessive combs which tend to
eeze, thus throwing the birds out Of
nditiou.
This is indeed lame excuse, as these
rds can be raised with profit during the
nter as well as the warmer months.
fer here to White Leghorns and An
mas, which two breeds are generally
cepted as being the egg machines.
We raised both kinds and have always
en- fairly successful during the winter
tn both.
Lazy men will freeze while at work,
{ hard workers never do. The same
! be said of chickens. Keep them busily
work during the cold, snappy weather
you will have no trouble with combs
ezing or hens getting out of condition.
e whole thing in producing winter
IS, then, narrows itself down to proper
e and attention.
t is true that some Of the larger bodied
ds can be made to pay a profit from
lter laying, but the smaller breeds
h as above mentioned, will do more
accomplish the desired results than
of the so-called meat breeds"
( you have not already considered the
istion of feeding for eggs this winter
so at once. Supply the birds a liberal
ount of we'll balanced grain twice
D., which in all cases, should be scat
ID in a good litter of straw or other
It material By scratching this out,
b bird has an equal chance to get its
ton. Besides this method furnishes
rcise for the fowls, and permits the