Milford chronicle., 1916-09-08

Z
age breeder is to build up around him a
large flock of chickens, and in accomp-
| fishing this end he pays absolutely no
attention to the quality, with the result
that most of his birds are so poor"
that they soon become burden rather
than an asset to the plant.
There are quite a few persons engaged
| in the raising of poultry who have not
as yet learned that every bird Matched
is by no means a desirable one, and not
realizing this, they hang on to each and
every one like grim death rather than
sacrifice the bulk for the good of the
few and the plant.
The success of every business lies in
wedding out the things which are unde-
sirable or Improbable and retaining
only that form which a profit is possi
BILE. There are many specimens of fowls
which may be included in this class of
undesirables and no man who raises
poultry to any extent will ever show
profit from them unless he gets rid of
all that are in any way an incumbrance
to the business.
Drones and nOn-producers will con-
sumo food in the same proportions as
the layers, but will yield nothing in re-
turn. This causes the waste of large
sums of money in feed bills, which will
more than overbalance the profit made
on the layers.
Most breeders endeavor to hatch as
many youngsters as it is possible for
them to do during the spring, and even
during the summer months. / do not
wish to condemn this practice, for it is
only right and proper that every man
should endeavOr to make all that is pos
sible out of the business, and the only
way to do it is by Matching chicks.
The mistake made, however, is that
too many attempt to retain or bring to
maturity ALL the youngsters Matched,
without any attention being paid to their
worth, and the result is that many of
the plants become overcrowded or over
stocked with lot of good-for-nothing
specimens that are of no real value and
that only take up valuable space. The
only object in retaining a number of
birds each season is to build up profit /.
able flock of birds, and this can never
be accomplished unless culling is re-
sorted to. I
The mistake of overcrowding is not 1
only made by those who attempt to |
breed show birds, but likewise by those |
whose efforts are confined to utility |
stock, or for commercial purposes. In |
the latter case, one retains the bulk of |
the birds hatched, in the hope of pro-
ducing so many more layers. But here |
is where he makes a serious mistake, |
for culls will never amount to anything
as layers. and the sooner one gets rid |
of them the quicker will his profits in
crease.
No matter what ones object in rails
ing chickens, success will never come
by overcrowding, but on the contrary,
failure will result. A few birds, well
chosen as to their size, shape and color,
coupled with the fact that they are the
progeny of exceptional layers, should
and will be far more profitable to the
breeder than four times the number
reared in overcrowded yards, under un-
favorable conditions, and with no effort
made toward proper breeding. The fact
that every bird hatched from eggs of
prize winning stock does not make a
show bird, no matter what the parent
stock might be, is applicable to utility
poultry breeding as well. Every bird
PATCHED does not make a layer, nor is
very bird Matched good enough to keep !
md thereby become a part of the flock
rom which you expect to realize
,rofit-
If your object is to build up profit
.ble utility strain, or a strain for COM /
,etition in the show room, it is abso- I
utely necessary that you resort to Gull
ng, and close culling at that. True,
,ou will be longer in attaining your am
,itions, but then, the reward will be
reater in the end. The process of Gull
ng should extend over quite a period.
lever attempt to complete your culling
q one operation, but rather take three
r more turns at it, each time eliminat-
lg those birds which do not measure up
o the standard. Dispose of them i'm n
1ediately, thereby turning them into p
ash money, and making more room in d
'hich to properly rear those that are v
etained. n
In either case, then, let me advise e
on to Gull closely. The presence of
culls" will not take up the room which
1ould be devoted to the use and devel-
pment of those birds that will mean s
when they have matured,
ut in addition, make an unsightly ap- al
earance. and all in all, are detriment a.
, the plant. W
Rid your place of such as these and b.
e content to raise fewer, better and h
Iore profitable fowls which will yield a R
rofit during the coming fall and winter.
The job Of culling is by no means an ~
lsy one, and if you think so and expect n,
complete it all at once, you viii be
IDLY ''left. Let it extend over a le
sriod of from four to six weeks, each Il,
me taking away those which show at
gns of being off in color, shape or size
ID send them to market. Try to re- 4.
in only those which are nearest to the z,
quirements of the Standard Of Per- I.
ctiOn. ~
Nor can you expect to build up Il. i,
rain in one year. If the work Of Gull
g is properly done each year, and &C
ecial attention given annually to the IN
0per mating and breeding, you will r,
entually have success, whether you
in for show birds or a good laying q. .
rain. Your work Of culling, however, W
NEVER done, even after you have ito
the desired result, for un- We
IS you keep after the flock by annu-
Y culling it, it will soon slip back into tv
former state. There is nothing easy on
o44f fha r,or1ifrrr hnrinaaa and tn hnun