The Daily Missoulian., 1917-08-12
''Whk1 BREED IS BEST
,ToBUY?" LOOK AROUND
f's
Question Of Average Begin
nef in Poultry Business
lsa Difficult One.
STUDY is REQUIRED
But Above All Be Careful in
Making Choice, Ex-
pert Advises.
BY w. L. Perry.

~ w. I. peery.
foultrymen are asked all kinds of
questions these days regarding poultry
and poultry raising. One Of the lead
ing questions that has been put to me
great many times lately is: what
Is the best variety or breed OF chickens
for me to keep"
Ihis Is hard question to answer.
Tor the reason that there are a great
' many good breeds and varieties of
poultry. The best way to answer tho
question. no doubt. is to ask the in.
Hulrer what breed or variety he likes
the best. or what one he would prob
ably be satisfied with.
After this point has been settled IN
thc prospects mind. he should then
look around for the breed or variety
nc has decided upon. with the idea Of
getting the very best he can afford to
buy. 1t Is presumed he is looking for
foundation for n flock, rather than
attempting to break into the business
all ot~ sudden. 4 good idea would
, oe 10 enter, into correspondence with
some OF the poultrymen that advertise
IN the journals with the idea of find
ing out what class Of stock they have.
VIII. no doubt, prove profitable to
the. beginner to consult some poultry
man IN this section. with the vfew-of
getting suggestions from him regard
ing those with whom he is CORE
spending. Almost all Of the advertising
breeders have good stock, but the prac-
tieal man will be able to drop many a
hint that will be valuable. 1t is lust
as important to get the right start with
poultry as with a dairy herd This
should always be considered when YOU
contemplate branching out.
Personally. would pick out some of
the American breeds for this section of
the country. The Leghorns have now
oeen bred IN this state and climate long
enough so that they are giving good
results when tried out on a CONNER
cial basis. Ii YOU desire to go into the
commercial egg business l believe |
would take the Leghprns in preference
TO some of the other breeds. You can
hnv Leghorns that will give the be-
Einner better results than the Ameri-
can breeds. They will sit less than the
heavier breeds. OF course. there are
some strains of the heavy breeds that
will sit very little. but how and where
will the beginner turn to get them?
For a. small family flock | would Sc
iect the medium weight breeds, such
ms the Plymouth Rocks. Rhode Island
Reds, Wyandottcs. Orpingtons etc.a
These breeds will always give YOU
plenty of eggs the year around if
properly fed and taken care of. and
at the same time they are just the
right size for table purposes
Again, il were to make a selection
Tor the small home lot I would try to
get something pretty good so far as
standard lines go. with the idea of hav-
ing few birds that would be fit to en-
ter In local poultry show. Once one
gets the show fever he will then begin
10 find out how fascinating poultry
really Is. Then, again. the man with a
nice flock OF standard bred poultry al
Waya takes more pride in caring for
them, and it is this extra care You will
give this kind Of a flock that will
really make them lay eggs
The expense Of feeding a dozen hens
need not be very great at any time Of
the year. one dozen good hens will
furnish all the fresh eggs the average
family will need, besides having quite a
number to sell to the neighbors, who
appreciate good. fresh eggs when they
know they are fresh. The sales Of the
surplus will more than pay for the feed
one will have to buy for a flock of
good hens the size mentioned. You
will also find that the table scraps will
feed quite flock. and this is the very
best kind OF egs-producing feed. To-
gether with this should be fed a little
corn and wheat In a deep litter. and
a mash Of cornmeal. bran and shorts
and chopped oats might be fed with
good results. a little commercial beef
scrap can be fed. and oyster shell and
grit should always be before them, and
some find charcoal good tonic for
laying hens.
AS stated last week. green stuff
must be fed to laying and growing
stock. and II several varieties are used
this will help keep the grain bill down.
One dozen hens will give you all the
fresh eggs YOU will need this winter
and they will not cost you to exceed
$3.50 per month. Stop and figure up
your egg bill and see where you will
win by keeping a flock Of hens this
wintef Besides. you will be helping
Uncle Sam to feed four nations You
should do your bit" in this world
crisis. You will be doing this. by con-
serving a waste. product that will
amount to many dollars before green