Milford chronicle., 1917-08-10

While IL is generally conceded that spring is the
proper time for entering the ranks OF tne Poul'Iy
rasers yet fall is possibly Just as good time te
make the venture and in many cases, proves tht
better time Especially is this 30 for the beginner
Just when To begin. however. is always a ques-
ton for the beginner, and indeed for those who
are not ready to make the start now but VINO may
be contemplating doing 80 at some future time.
II naturally goes without saying that spring lie a
most excellent time to start in the raising OF poul-
try, but to my mind. almost any time is good
time For that reason ] say that the fall Of the
year is 8 most opportune season 70 start.
The thing is not 50 much when you start but
how you start. Unless you intend 70 conduct the
business Of poultry raising along proper metnods
in order that you will reap a profit from il. you
had better not start at ALL In the event that you
are unconcerned. then any time will be the wrong
The average beginner makes his most serious
bunder almost at the start Of his poultry career
| and this is one Of the prime reasons why say the
fall is a good time to start your poultry business
/ Indeed / strongly recommend a start at this par
ticular season Of the year.
FaII is but short way off, and if you are think
! ing Of getting into the chicken raising game. by
/ the time you get ready the season will be upon
| you. In other words if you intend 10 start this
/ fall. make ready now.
This particular season offers many advantages
over q spring start. For instance; better birds
may be purchased now at a smaller cost than can
possibly be in the early spring when every poul-
tryman has use for every specimen he might pos
sess. Old or breeding birds are to be had in the
springtme only at a premium consequently one
entering the business is forced to purchase day.
old chicks or resort 70 laying out large sum OF
money for an incubator and Matching eggs.
The latter method, while all right IN IT'S way
has a tendency to discourage the average beginner
by reason of the many losses that fails 10 MS lot
and in the end. is a rather expensive way TO get
start as a poultryman.
Starting in business in the fall by the purchase
Of females and a cock bird one learns much about
their habits and requirements during the winter
months and is in a much better position TO care
for the chicks when they come IN the spring tnan
the man who starts in with the youngsters minus
any experience. Then too. if you adopt one OF the
larger or era-purpose breeds you save the pur-
chase price of an incubator.
Hens can be used for this purpose, and this
method of incubator is much the better one for
the beginner. The saving in the price OF the match
ing eggs is also quite an item to be considered
Many persons who start in the spring 90 so by
the purchase of a pen of birds and proceed much
the same as | would advocate Tor tal starting
There is little in my mind but that this is the very
best way TO begin, but am Just as tnoroughiy
convinced that your results will better if the pen
is purchased and the start made in the fall rather
than in the spring. By caring for them over WIN
ter you will learn much about the business, much
about the fowls and about their wants and habits.
and will be better able TO care for and raise the
chicks in the spring than by following the spring
method of beginning.
No person ever learned the art of poultry rails
ing in a day and you will not be an exception to
the rule. By making your start in the spring |
many things and conditions will be sprung upon |
you all at one time for solution, is the case with
every beginner who starts at that time Your !
failure to solve them correctly will mean money |
lost. This is the one thing which dlsheartens and /
discourages many who start to raise poultry, and !
they get out of the business almost before they /
enter it. with the cry, there is no money in poul-
try"
They attempt to learn every phase of the indus
try in a day. so to speak. and Of course fail Where
the start is made in the fall however the breeder
is given much time to study and learn something
Of the business in which he is engaged. Thus he
is better prepared to handle the problem Of chick
raising in the spring than he otherwise would be-
we're he forced to care for the old and young alike
without any knowledge of the subject whatever.
No successful business ever started big. The