The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-06-01
Farm Department
Raise More Chickens.

hat the poultry products OF the
United States could be doubled VIII
ia year means that If everyJod.' H..
"a position to help did their part
5000. 900 900 worth of food wOdld Re
added to our supply this year.
This includes both meat for the
table and eggs. Very few farmers
practice a systematic plan of dispoS-
ing of their fowls after they have
ceased to be productive, although
IL is well known that fowls Of the
heavier breeds, such as the Plymouth
Iocks, cease to produce a profitable
number of eggs at the end of their
second laying year, and thai lnis
holds true of the lighter breed&'
such as the Leghorns, at the end of
their third laying year. Consequent
", IL efforts were made to dispose of
all females when their best laying
days were over, large quantity OF
poultry meat would be placed on the
market. All poorly developed chick
ems should likewise be culled out and
used as meat. This way of dis
posing of Improbable fowls would
allow the farmer to feed his grain to
younger and more productive fowls.
Caponizing the cockerels that are
not intended for breeding pur-
poses will not only increase their size
but will place more desirable
poultry meat on the market. Another
practice that should be adopted more
widely is that Of fattening all chick
ems that are to be marketed before
they leave the farm. This can be
done easily by combining the birds for
a week or 10 days and feeding them
a good fattening ration. They will !
come to market then in better con- !
dition and the farmer will receive |
profit for their added weight.
The greater production of tur-
keys, ducks, geese, and guneas, all |
of which can be profitably raised and
a ready market found in most sec
tons, would increase the supply of
poultry meat considerably. The pro-
duction of ducks especially should be
emphasized at this time, because OF
the rapidity with which they grow.
Ducks of most of the meat breeds,
properly fed and managed, frequent
~ weigh from to pounds at 10
weeks of age. 1t is estimated by
poultrymen making a speciality of
growing ducks that the feed cost per
pound of producing duck meat ranges
from cents to Il cents, depending
upon the current prices ofg rain and
other feeds. II
: The number of mark eta BILE eggs
can be increased by following a few ;
practical suggestions. Among Che ,
most important of these are the pro-
duction of the infertile egg after the |
breeding season is over, and the !
proper handling of eggs by the farm 7
er before sending them to market. {
The infertile egg is obtained when all Z
male birds are removed from the I
flock. This does not decrease the
humber of eggs produced, but it does +;
increase their keeping qualities. The ,
production of the infertile egg and .
the proper handling and marketing :
of eggs by the producer would in .
crease tremendously the number of :.
marketable eggs each year by dimin- !,
irhing the Gaanity that are rendered =
unfit for food. 4
An increased production Of d>lks'
eggs is advisable where available "
markets are found. a
The poultry house should be clean "
and sanitary and the fowls free from b
insect pests, thereby preventing dis fl
ease and mortality. It is estimated
that nearly 100000 worth of b
poultry is lost each year through 7,
disease alone. Special attention
should be given to the feeding and Il
housing of laying fowls at seasons of "
the year when their natural source II
Of food supply is cut Off. Ii
Although the Matching season
proper should be considered at an II
end by May /, it may be feasible in
icme sections of the northern and II
northwestern parts Of this country
e continue Matching until The LIST OF Ii
lnno Chicks Matched at that time,
with proper feed management, will o
requcnty begin laying in Janauray m
II the following year. Tho maturity @,
II fowls Matched late can he greatly
increased if the mother hens are con- 81
med until the chicks are weaned. al
N this way feed that is furnished
he chicks produces growth. instead
u energy to follow the mother. Extra
'recautions should be taken in the d,
ate spring and early summer to keep N
he Young birds free from lice and "