The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-01
Fifth Month Regarded as
Best for Rearing P.oul-
try Artificially.

in the poultry business This is indi-
Gated by frequent inquiries either from
experienced poultry men or those in !
tending engagin. IN it, for information
and suggestions. One request is for
advice about late Matching. whether
ii is best to always hatch in the early
months or delay until the weather has
become more settled
May is one of the best months to
start the rearing of chicks in an arti-
ficial way. The reason for this is that
weather conditions are very unsettled
during tire carly part of the season and
unless the poultry raiser is fully equip
Led to meet such conditions the losses
from the early matches are liable to be
many. During May the chicks can be
(, put into an outdoor brooder and given
| a chance to run on the ground or
grass. which is most beneficial to them.
Chicks reared in the open air from the
beginning are as n rule. more hardy
I than those brought up like dollhouse
1 plants in warm rooms and on board
floors. They develop quicker and are
less liable to disease, two very essen
tial items in profitable poultry raising.
May PuIIets Ought to Lay in November
| Pullets Matched in May will. if given
the proper care, feed and attention,
lay the following November, when eggs
are demanding good prices, and when
old hens have not yet fully recovered
from the moult. The experienced
| breeders of Leghorns or other Mediter-
ranean varieties as a rule select the
May Matched chicks for their own
breeding has taught them that pullets
Matched during the month devolp into
| payers"
| When it comes to the heavy Narie-
ties. such as the various breeds of
Asiatics, Cochins. Brahmas, and the
like. the preference is given to the
earlier matches, but not SO with the
smaller breeds. Even in the American
varieties among them the Plymouth
Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Wyan-
dottes. the May Matched chicks arc
very popular. 1t is a fact that the
American varieties do not develop as
rapidly as the Lcghorns and other
smaller varieties. but, nevertheless the
May pullet. if given the right chance,
will lay before the snow flies.
Many Advantages Favor Development.
| If the eggs from stock with the
Matching. and if the chicks when
Matched receive that attention neces-
sary for their steady growth and de-
velopmont, there is no question that
lMay-hatchcd chicks from the Ameri-
can breeds are very desirable They
have many things in their favor chief
among which are enough natural ad-
vantages to mako them grow more
rapidly than those Matched during an
earlier period of the season. Sunshine.
air, fresh soil. green gross and natural
surroundings will do wonders for the
.Enewly- Matched chicks, and one week
under such conditions will bring about
more development than two weeks Of
) close confinement indoors. with less
air. little sunshine. no tender grasses
and hard boards to run on.
Artificial Methods in Aiding Nature.
Artificial rearing of chicks does not
mean that the chicks can be success
fully deprived of alb things nature in
tended they should have. Artificial
methods arc only successful when cou
pied with natural surroundings. con-
ditions and feeds. To carry artificial
methods to an extreme is bound to end
nation of the artificial Matching and
rearing of chicks. Most of those poul
try raiscrs who have tried both meth
DDS of incubation and have found the
old hen preferable have been ex-
, tremists who have carried the artificial
methods to IA Point where reason
ceases. The incubator and broodei
can do wonderful things, but they can
not supply every condition nature in
. tended unless assisted. The sooner the
sooner he will find himself on the road
to successful artificial incubation ant
brooding.
No matter if the eggs come from
the most vigorous stock and are pos
sessed OF the strongest germ. If thu
J chicks are not given the chance to ge
as close to nature as possible, con
fined perhaps in a broodhouse with
. out an outdoor run, those chicks can
= not develop into strong pullets ant
. cockerels. 1t Is surprising how man,
chicks are annually brought up under
such unfavorable conditions. and SOM
:. lby poultry rasers who should know
n lbetter. Is it any wonder some poultr,
q breeders are always complaining o
= poor matches, of weakly, sickly chicks
e The wonder is that nature does no
+ rebel altogether against such unrea
o sonableness.
Later Hatches Preferred.
Another advantage in the late
y matches is the fact that The fertilt.
of the eggs run higher on an average
Every well-regulated, properly matte