Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-29

"A. W. Richardson. Instructor In Animal Indus
ny, Poultry Division, U. Of NJ
There are several factors which influ.
ence the cost Of production Of chickens,
regardless Of the breed or the variety,
and among these are, the age OF the par.
ent breeding stock, both females and
males, the management Of the breeding
stock, the incubation, the brooding and
the rearing.
First, let Us consider the age Of the
breeding stock. Many people,go on the
assumption that 1t is never good business
to breed from pullets. But this assump-
ton is incorrect. It IL good business to
breed from pullets, providing the pullets
are mature; that is providing the pullets
mature and get to laying by the middle
Of November. II such pullets ~ these
are used, they will produce cheaper
chickens because In the first place, they
will produce more eggs from which to
batch chickens and this 10 big item.
Then again, these birds are right In the
prime of their youth and are strong, and
full of vigor and will impart these quail.
tiles to their chicks, and the hatchability
Of the eggs and the INABILITY of the
chicks will be greater, thus We get .
cheaper chicken.
Let US consider now the male. It was
formerly thought that cockerel should
seldom or never be used In a breeding
pen, but 1t has been demonstrated With
several thousand birds that the cockerels
will produce 20 percent more chickens
than the cock bird and when We consider
these figures, 1t certainly looks az
though the cockerel would produce
cheaper chicken than q cock bird.
In regard to the management OF the
breeding stock, 1t might be said that
much of the fertility and the hatchabil-
ity of the eggs depends on how the stock
is handled. If the male 10 allowed to
run with too many females, the germs
will not be as strong, and while the fer
tility appears high, yet the hatchability
will be low, and this state Of affairs Is
against the production of cheap chick.
ems.
There is an item of feeding which
should be mentioned here and that is the
feeding of wheat. During the past year
or more since wheat has been abnormal.
ly high there has been much discussion
and many questions asked as to the econ
omy of feeding wheat. 1t is my opinion
that We cannot afford not to feed wheat,
and this applies particularly during the
breeding season because II wheat Is not
fed, then believe that the egg produc-
ton will not be a. great a. 1t would II
wheat were fed and I believe that the
eggs will not hatch out as many strong,
livable chicks as they would If wheat
were fed and this has quite bearing on
the cost of our chickens.
The next question is the one OF incu.
baton. So much depends upon the
length of time which eggs can be held
and the temperature at which they are
held that 1t is worthy OF mention here.
n the eggs are not held over week or
ten days and are held In comparatively
moist place and at temperature below
8S because the development within the
egg begins II the temperature is raised to
3S-7O), then II other conditions are cor
rect they will hatch nearly as we'll "a
though they we're fresh; but not quite as
we'll, 80 If We are to get the greatest pos
sible hatch from our eggs, they must be
Incubated as soon as possible after they
are laid. The actual incubation itself OF
course has great influence on the per.
cent hatched. II the temperature is too
low, or il it is too high, or II 1t varies,
then the hatch will be impaired and
when the chicks come ont they will have
cost rs great deal more than they
II the eggs are brooded by the hen
then We must sec to 1t that the ben does
not come of her nest too frequently, and
that she does not stay of too long, and
then again We must see that she comes
of as often as she should (because many
hens will sit tooIclosely). Ifsny Of the
eggs become broken We must wash the
remainder 80 that they will not be ruin.
ed by the contents of the broken egg be-
ing smeared over them. ALI these fac
tors have Q bearing on the percent
hatched and govern the price OF our
chickens.
The question of brooding chickens, es-
pecially in large numbers, has been
greatly simplified by the use OF the coal
burning brooders. These brooders will
brood from 800 to 500 (though think
that 800 chicks in one flock 10 enough)
and the brooder is as easy to care for as
an old kerosene brooder with capacity
of 50 to Is and is much safer. The
chicks get q better supply OF fresh air
since the circulation under the coal burn.
ing hover is q great deal better than the
old kerosene burning hovers, and the
very fact that the chicks do get much
more fresh air which is 90 essential to
their life and growth, the mortality 10
much less and of course the cost OF each
chick is much less. There is question
of labor in caring for the brooder, and
here the coal burning brooder H. far
an perior to the old kerosene brooders.
Because q man can care for one coal
buruer in the same length of time that 10
required to care for . kerosene burner
and the capacity is at least five times az
GREAT. and the labor cost must be reckon
ed with when We consider the produc'
ton of cheaper chickens.
The rearing of the chicks has great
deal to do with the economy OF the pro-
duction. II the chicks are kept growing
all the time, they are going to be grown
more economically than as II they, have
stunted periods, and they can be kept
better If there 10 constant sup
DIV of dry mash before them all the time
much better than they can II they are
fed on sloppy foods. II they have plen-
ty of yard room where they can run,
where they can search out grubs, bugs,
worms, and the like. they will be grown
cheaper than IL confined closely. II an
of shade 10 furnished them
II will make q great difference In the
growth because the extreme heat of July
Will sap the life and strength right out OF
the little chicks, especially those hatchsd
late and not fully festhered. So in order
TO overcome this extreme heat, We must
provide some sort of shade.
One last thing / wish to mention in the
production of cheap chickens and that
is the individual himself. IL be does
not have the mother love for the little
ohicks nor q faculty for keeping the