Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17
ACCIDENTS ADD SHARE
TO CHICK MORTALITY
Large Commercial Farms Show That
Five Eggs Arc Hatchcd for
Each Pullct.
WATER NEARLY ALWAYS FATAL
Overcrowding Is Bad, and Animals
Take Their Toll - Yards and
Fences Should BE Made Fool
proof-Rats Dangerous Pests.
BI ROBERT ARMSTRONG;.
Expert Poultrynnn md Writer


II has been said that chick in the
brooder is worth two chicks in the
shell, which is true. 1t is equally true
that pullct on the range is WORTH
two chicks in the brooder If you wish
TO make Il conservative estimate of
next winters layers, YOU must consider
the element of mortality between the
incubator and the laying house. CaSu-
altics are bound to occur. 1t is the
right spirit to try and raise 100 per
cent of the chicks Matched but do not
feel dishcartcucd if finally YOU count
but one pullet for every three chicks
Matched That is about the customary
ratio.
Il want flock of fifty pullets for
next winters layers; how many eggs
should l hatch to secure this amount -
y great many persons ask this ques-
ton. and great many more think
of ii. 1t is a very natural query There
Is no SPECIFIC answer to il, of course,
but ii can he estimated close enough
for practical purposes by few gem
erai averages To disregard facts in
the poultry business. as in any indus
try, is to invite discouraEemcnt prob
ably failure. Certain losses are almost
certain to occur. The experienced
breeder considers these losses from the
beginning. with the result that he csti-
mates the need of Matching five eggs
for each pullet contemplated
To claim that five eggs equal one
pullet may sound discouragingly low
TO the beginner. and there are many
exceptions to the rule: nevertheless on
large commercial farms. this average
prevails, and. furthermore. it is con-
sidered highly successful.
Whnt Arc the Cnsunltiest
We start with five cggs. from which
We obtain one pullct. What happened
n ha nj hnr OF
we must start with the incubator. Two
eggs failed in the process of Matching
from one cause or another-infertility,
death in the shell. and so on, which
represents 60 per ceut hatch. and this
is considered very fair average for
the seasons work. OF the three chicks
Matched, one died in the broodcr.
amounting to the customary 80 per
cent mortality on farms where chicks
are raised in large numbers. OF the
two chicks reared to maturity, one de-
Veloped into cockerel, which is the
customary 30 per cent run OF males.
leaving a single pullet for the laying
house.
1t is we'll TO hitch our wagon to a
star in this business. and to hope that
VIC may hatch 50 per cent of the eggs
set, rear 90 per cent of the chicks
Matched and pray that so per cent Of
those chicks will mature into pullctS:
but ii is a poor plan to depend upon
such glowing averages. ON the other
hand. to assume that a mortality Il So
per cent is about normal makes it APP
pear as though young chickens We're
heir TO. and prone to con,rac', every
disease under the solar system
Chicks are frail. ii is true, because
they are very intcnSivciy constructed
organism. Yet it is the writer's expert
ence that a greater mortality is due
10 accidents rather than disease. and
by causes which should come wiil;n
the attendants control In fact. the
ways in which a chick may meet ITS
death are so numerous. il would al
most seem that they are born with
suicidal intentions.
beware Of Rats mud Other Animals.
1t is unwisc 10 brood chicks within
fifty yards OF old outbuildnES. les;
rats abound, or in a coop that offers
a refuge for the pests. Thousands uf
chicks are Killed annually by rodents.
They are counted among the poultry
mans greatest foes. once let rat
get taste of chick flesh and he viii
rob the brood of two or three MEM
bcrs day. in broad daylight. If nee
cssary, and frequently under the very
eyes OF the attendant.
Crows. hawks. Gals and other ami
mails take their toll, and must be
guarded against in some way. AS a
rule, pet eats and dogs will not steal
little chicks II these pets are fed at
the farmhouse, tsmt iftlcft TO forage
for themselves the temptation will
likely prove too strong, and We cannot
conscientiously blame them. \ shot
gun is sometimes effective against
hawks and crows, though our friend
the "scare-crow" is "a more convenient
way TO combat the latter. Wcasels
and other nocturnal maraudcrs are best
dealt with by the ounce OF prccau-
ton" in the shape OF tine mesh wire
netting over all openings TO the coops.
IT may be a little inconvenicnt and
troublesome to Shut up all the build
ings at dusk and open them at dawn.
but it's a pretty good life insurance
policy, nevertheless
Peculiar Affinity for Winter.
For some obscure reason water has
peculiar fascination for chicks and
10 those under II months age il is
strangely fatal. Immediately following
thunder shower. especially toward
evening, brood Of chicks viii Scampcr
outdoors and commence wadinc in the
nuddlcs. or trudgc through the long
grass and weeds. In short time they
are wet and bcdrarElcd chilled to the
bone and utterly miserable. The
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