Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
THE ACCEPTED Time FOR
WOULD-BE POULTRYMEN
Plenty OF Room for Chicken Raiscrs
in the Region Around About Rich
lnond Just Now.
LITTLE ADVICE TO YOUNGSTERS
Brief Lecture on Selecting, Feeding
and Nursing-Novicc Should Seek
Advice From Experienced Breed
ers-NIethods of Feeding.

Advice From Experienced Breed
ers-Methods of Feeding.
There never was better time to
go into the poultry raising business
than right now. that is. now is the
time to make the start for next year.
and all OF tho Indications are that the
business will be u paying one next
year and for several more years to
come. q few words to those contem-
plating going into II may not be out
Of place.
IL you have the time. and II you
haven't you should take It, go to one
OF the largest breeders IN your neigh
borhood and get all OF the advice you
can While you must realize that prac-
teal experience, with few hard
knocks thrown in. Is tho best teacher.
a little friendly advice from ono who
knows the business is not to be de-
spised. Many persons go into poultry
raising with very lAt!e idea OF the
!ntricacies Of the business, and never
think Of going to see a large plant run
by some friend Visit one that haa
been successful and learn the methods
and all OF the tricks OF the trade. This
will mean many dollars to you. per-
haps.
THE WISDOM OF MAKING
A MODEST BEGINNING
Select the breed and color of the
variety you prefer and stick TO it.
1t is not so much In the breed as In
tho way you breed them. Start with
thoroughbred stock. Don't get that
ld-time notion I'm your head that
mixed breeds will lay better. You Will
make more money If you go In for
the stock business, selling eggs and
stock for breeding purposes. and you
can also combine the utility branch
with this. Now the main point: Don't
start in too heavy! Hold on to your
job awhile longer. get n pen or two
OF good birds and learn or feel your
way as you 30. I'll venture 20 say
that three fourths OF the folks who
make failure OF poultry keeping are
those who start In tyo heavy. 1t looks
SO easy TO the noNce to hatch chickens
and raise them into dollars! II is II
you start on small scale with a few
hens and hatch. say. 500 ltl!le chickens.
you arc soon swamped with work and
don't know how TO care for them.
They begin dying OF like flies. and
there you are-"no money In chick
cns.' and another one has Joined the
ihrons OF unsuccessful poultry
Cranks."
When you get on the market. wheth-
cr you are selling TO breeders. mcr-
chants or consumers. always treat
your customers SO that they will come
back again with their orders. In
large number in the
poultry business lack business ability.
II you have failed at everything you
have gone into It In more than likely
that you will fall IN tho chicken bust
ness. Don't employ somebody to do
the work for you: do 1t yourself. In
this way only You will master the
little ms and outs quickly. Don't
knock your competitors. as every
knock Ia boost--it you can't speak
we'll OF him, leave his name alone. II
you have to knock another mar's birds
70 sell your own. It's usually sign
hat yours lack quality. in this bus
mess, more than in any other perhaps,
Is the life Of trade, and
you should make your competitors
your best friends. All should help
10 increase the business. All the poul-
trymen In any ono community ought
10 pull together. and not against each
other.
PROPER HOUSING AND
PROPER METHODS OF FEEDING:
When you start don't waste money
In expensive poultry houses: put your
money in the stock: he sure you get
a good foundation Send to the best
breeder around you for the breed you
like and set out with an endea vor to
~ hta
for hne stock. Don't inbreed until you
have mastered the fne points OF poul-
try culture, for II you do you will
certainly have trouble raising the
young stock and have poor layers as
4 result.
The best foods should always be
used for then there Is no waste, and
you'll find II pays In the end by the
birds showing far better return. II
you use mash feed, give II to them
in troughs. unless there Ia grass IN
the runs Keep your drinking yes
sells clean and keep them III the shade
in hot weather. This Is very import
ant as the sun gets the water warm
and unnt to drink very quickly. and
Is one OF the main causes OF diarrhea
in young chickens.
oVerfeedins Is almost worse than
former causes In
fertile eggs. and very few at that; also
causes liver trouble. paving the way
for any sickness. just like In human
beings.
Always take n little time In feeding.
II you have several pens one should
walk through them two or three times.
giving little feed each time. 1t will
be rclishcd more than IL all Is thrown