The Colorado statesman., 1917-06-02
POULTRY PRODUCTS
COULD Be DOUBLED
LoWIy Hen Can Do Much to Re-
Iieve Food Shortage, Say
Uncle Sans Experts.
SYSTEMATIC PLANS NEEDED
Six Hundred Million Dollars Worth Of
Eatables Could Be Added to Ma
tion's Supply in Year, 1t Is
Declared.

The statement that has been made
by those in position to know that
the poultry products of the United
States could be doubled within year
means that if everybody in position
to help did their part six hundred
million dollars worth of food would
be added to our supply this year, say
Uncle Sans experts in the department
of agriculture.
This includes both meat for the ta-
Bile and eggs. Very few farmers prac-
tice Il systematic plan of disposing of
their fowls after they have ceased to
be productive, these experts say, al
though it is well known that fowls
of the heavier breeds, such as the
Plymouth Rocks, cease to produce
profitable number of eggs at the end
of their second laying year, and that
this holds true of the lighter breeds,
such as the Leghorns, at the end of
their third laying year. Consequent
ly, if efforts We're made to dispose OF
all females when their best laying
days We're over large quantity of
poultry meat would be placed on the
market. All poorly developed chickens
should likewise be culled out and used
as meat. This way of disposing of un-
profitable fowls would allow the farm
er to feed his grain to younger and
more productive fowls.
Fattening Chickens for Market.
Caponizing the cockerels that are
not intended for breeding purposes
will not only increase their size but
will place more desirable poultry
meat on the market. Another practice
that should be adopted more widely, it
is declared, is that of fattening all
chickens that are to be marketed be-
fore they leave the farm. This can be
done easily by combining the birds for Il
week or ten days and feeding them IL
good fattening ration. They will come
to market then in better condition and
the farmer will receive profit for
their added weight.
The greater production of turkeys,
ducks, geese and guineas, all of which
can be profitably raised and ready
market found in most sections, would
increase the supply of poultry meat
considerably. The production of ducks
especially should be emphasized at
this time it is urged, because of the
rapidity with which they grow. Ducks
of most of the meat breeds, properly
fed and managed, frequently weigh
from five to six pounds at ten weeks
of age. 1t is estimated by poultry
men making n speciality of growing
ducks that the feed cost per pound of
producing duck meat ranges from
eight to twelve cents.
Increasing Supply of Eggs.
The number of marketable eggs can
be increased by following n few prac-
stical suggestions. Among the most i'm
portant of these are the production
of the infertile sgg after the breeding
season is over, and the proper handling
of eggs by the farmer before sending
them to market. The infertile egg is
obtained when all male birds are re-
moved from the flock. This does not
decrease the number of eggs produced,
but it does increase greatly their keep
ing qualities. The production of the
infertile egg and the proper handling
and marketing of eggs by the producer
would increase tremendously the num-
ber of marketable eggs each year by
diminishing the quantity that are rem
dered unfit for food.