Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-04
IN POULTRY
ON Il SMALL SCALE
Make the Backyard a Source
of Pleasure and Profit
Only a Small Area Is Neces-
sary For a Family Flock of
Hens
BY Il. e. KEYSER
Breeder, Fancier and Author.
COPYRIGHT 1916

| start small and grow large" is the
advice usually given the beginner i'm
poultry culture. 1t is good advice, vet
there are those who have not the space
nor inclination to keep large noclSs.
They want u few hens as a side line
and for recreation; a family flock to
| supply eggs and meat for the homo
table, and perhaps, add little to the
family income.
NHE beginner should start with
pure-bred stock. The initial ex-
pense will be q little more than
Tor mongrels, but it will cost no more
TO raise them, the returns will be
larger and the satisfaction greater.
When the start is made in the Fall or
Iate 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 1st it is not economical
TO purchase fowls, as breeders will
nave their pens mated for the season
ana VIII not take out good birds un-
less they can secure a 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
more sittings and as many broody
hens; the latter can be secured of
farmers or poultrykeepers, who are
usually glad to get rid of them at a
small advance over the price of mar
ket poultry. They need not be of
pure blood, but should be of fair
size, SO as to take good care of the
eggs. Decide on the number of hens
you VIII set and place an order for
eggs, with the understanding they are
to be shipped as soon as you notify the
seller your hens are ready.
Care of Sitting Hens
Wban tho hroo5,, I..z
warm nests made in rather deep boxes.
illl the boxes part full of earth or
slfted coal ashes and after following
out the nest cover 1t with plenty of
snort straw, hay or other nesting ma
terlal. The nests should be in a we'll
protected place, If the weather is cold.
a small fnclosure should be built
around it and in this a supply of food
ana water kept. A convenient ar
rangement for sitting hens is 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 set
tied down to the business of sitting.
order the eggs. If they sit on china
eggs for several days, awaiting the ar
rival of the Matching eggs. ii will do
no harm. After they have learned to
come off and go on the nests they will
require no further attention save 10
see that they are 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 occupv IT
After the chicks are weaned the hens
can be used as wanted for Sunday din
ners, and In that way will fully repay
their first cost.
Some prefer the incubator to hens |
even for Matching a comparatively
small number of chicks. A small in
cubator is not very expensive, and
eggs from pure-bred fowls can often
be secured of neighbors at a nominal
cost or at slight advance over the
price of market eggs. Be particular
about the qualit-' of the eggs YOU get
as on them will depend the result:
If you use common store eggs there
are not likely to be any results.
Still another and excellent way is to
bu" 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 oh |
tained near home they can be ordered
from distance, for baby chicks can
be so packed that they will go safely
by express for considerable distance. |
Well-hatched chicks will make a Jour
neY requiring two or three days In |
safety and arrive at their destination
strong and we'll
The chicks must be kept warm. and
for this n brooder is necessary. There
are a great many kinds of brooders
suited to every purpose, from the col !
ony or outdoor brooder, helpful where
he wishes to raise less than 100 chicks
and has no suitable place in which to
operate other types, to the portable or
handy hovers so well suited to the
novice, if he has a building In which
to operate them. These hovers will
care for 100 chicks or less. and can
be operated in the house the chicks
are to be grown in.
If you wish the pullets to lay next
winter, when eggs are high, they
should be Matched early. 1t takes from |