Milford chronicle., 1916-11-24

Pursuant with a request to touch upon
the poultry industry from the viewpoint
of the beginner, ] will endeavor at this
time to give some details which might be
of advantage to those who are attempting
the raising Of birds for the first time.
There are many things to be considered
when one desires to begin the raising OF
poultry as a business, and unless the
start is made correctly, failure will be
very apt to follow.
The question of when to begin is one
often asked, and while many writers ad-
vocate the spring of the year for this pur
pose, I would suggest that the start b'
made in the fall At this season it Is
/ possible to purchase pen OF birds at
much more reasonable figure than at any
other time. If you are about to start in
I the game. by all means do so by the pur-
chase of good pen of some desirable
strain. rather than by the purchase Of
day-old chicks or even eggs for Matching.
There are many advantages 10 be gained
by the purchasing of a good pen rather
than by either of the other methods. In
the first place, by so doing, you will be
in position to learn much of the char
acteristics of the fowls and thus be III
better position to care for their many
wants-and these are indeed many and
varied
By the purchase Of day-old chicks, or
even a setting of good eggs which will be
placed under a mongrel hen, the chicks
are dumped upon the person desirous of
raising them without his having any
knowledge whatever of the game, and
the result is that most, if not all of them,
succumb to the many fatalities-and his
business is a failure from the very start.
It is also much less expensive to pur
chase a good pen of birds and thus have
your own eggs for Matching, than to at
tempt to buy all the eggs or chicks re-
quired in the spring to get good start.
The question, then, how to begin in
the business, is best answered by the
purchase of a pen of some good strain, |
and this might be well termed one of the |
first requisites. This settled, the next |
logical question is that of location. The |
proper location of the plant often deter |
mines to a large extent the success of it. |
Never put your house in low or hollow |
place, nor one where the drainage is to- !
ward it. High or rolling ground, with .
the drainage away from the houses and 1
runways is by far the better and safer
way. OF course, the character Of the soil
should receive some consideration, but
profitable business can be conducted on
almost any kind of soil, provided the
other conditions are right.
One of the most important things l de-
sire to impress upon the minds OF all be-
ginners is-be satisfied with a small be-
ginning. Don't expect, at the very out
set, to be the equal of the man who has
been in the game for years, for as Abe
says, 1T can't be did"
Start small and you will eventually
grow large, whereas if You attempt to
start large you will grow small, and to
grow small means to fail
Laziness has ruined the chances of {
many a man in the poultry business and
is one of the most-to-be- feared on1itions. I
The average poultryman, when starting {
in, thinks that all he has to do is to make I
his purchases and then sit idly BY and I
watch the eagles fly home" They never .
do it; they fly in the opposite direction
unless you keep constantly on the job !
coaxing them your way BY good care and
attention to your hocks.
Possibly the greatest trouble with most
beginners is that of housing their birds I
Turing the FIRST winter. Plan and build /
7our houses before getting your stock so
hat they will be properly housed when c
'ou get them, rather than get them first T
md then try to solve the problem Of !
helter. 4
And now, a word concerning the hous-
ng. would suggest the open front ?
tyle of poultry houses for both winter L
md summer, as these have given far bet II
er results than any other kind. Their P
preference lies in the fact that the birds r
re at all times supplied with an abund a
nee of fresh air which is so essential to
heir health, at the same time, admitting
'lenty of light which the fowls so much
esire. In constructing the houses so as Il,
o admit these necessary elements it is
rged that they be so built as to avoid
raughts, which are as dangerous to the u
irds as light and air are necessary. u y
If desired, the quarters may be sup a a
lied with a curtain to cover the opening y
d severe weather, but which will admit II
II at the same time. Always have the
penings in the houses facing the south.
his allows the sun to penetrate the quar- ei
ers during the day and helps keep them o,
weet and dry. II
DOM wait until you are in dire need OF
( something before beginning to get it. d.
he secret lies in always being in a posi- OF
on to care for any emergency. therefore, u!
lille the winter is with us, prepare for pt
le spring. Make ready your brooders ii
nd coops for taking care of the young
ers when they arrive.
Mate up your birds as early as possible,
} permit Of early Matching, as this means "