Milford chronicle., 1917-05-18

The question of choosing fowls for breeding is
one which should be largely considered by those
who contemplate making a profit from the indus
try It resolves itself however. into a decision of
taking on birds of two distinct properties that Of
meat or eggs. Particularly is this when con-
sidered by the farmer or person with ground
aplenty to devote to the use Of the fowls.
When person 50 situated decides to enter into
the business Of raising chickens. almost the first
question which presents itself to him, and one
which must surely be solved in the beginning, is
What breed should l adopt" The answer to
the question is largely determined by what you de-
sire and expect Of the birds. If you are looking
forward to supplying birds as table fowls or the
meat end Of the industry. you must of necessity
adopt breed that will meet these requirements.
IT, on the other hand, you feel that you would
rather engage in the supply of eggs an entirely
different type Of bird must be selected.
Owing to the many different breeds of fowls
now on the market in either Of these classes. the
iobber Of proper selection is rather difficult one
at best particularly for the unframed poultryman
This is also true as regards the novice or beginner
In such cases. however. one must rely to some eX-
tent and be largely governed by the advice Of
others who have had experience.
Then too, the breeders of almost any kind of a
fowl viii praise their own kind so highly. some
times running down the others, that even this ad-
vice is rather bewildering at times.
In the selection Of breed for farm use. as well
as for q rather large poultry plant one should go
slow. at least until such time as they are convine-
ed as to just what breed Is adapted to their wants
and the surrounding conditions. The selection of
q breed is very often determined by bird pecu-
liar color which might strike ones fancy, or by
hearing enthusiasts speak often of their favorites
In such selection little or no attention has been
given the subject Of What breed is best adapted
to my needs."
In entering the chicken business for profit one
should choose fowls for their beauty or even
size, but solely for their earning power. Most
persans seem 70 favor the white plumaRe bird on
account of their extreme beauty, and while their
selections are governed largely by the pure white
Of the bird. want to say that, all things be-
ing equal, ! too would choose the white feathered
fowls. ] do not mean to infer, however. that none
Of the white fowls are worthy of choice because
this would be untrue. There is. for instance, the
White LeghornB, which have earned quite a rebu-
tation as egg machines, and indeed one must not
pass them by unnoticed when making a selection
for the production OF eggs. The point I wish to
impress upon you. however. is that no bird should
be selected unless It has extra good qualities save
that Of its beauty.
All breeds of poultry are good and will undoubt-
for but while this is true il is also true that some
breeds viii give better results and therefore yield
q greater profit than Others
The meat breeds are those Of larger proportions
than the ones generally referred to as the egg
breedB. There is profit in meat breeds as wei as
the egg breeds and many persons prefer these to
the smaller egg fowls
As the bulk of the profit derived from the poul-
try business Is earned through the sale of eggs
would therefore recommend that persons now en-
gagged in the raising of poultry in a limited way
or those just starting in, select some one Of the
egg breeds IN order that the profits should be as
great aa possible.
The commercial egg business is today one Of the
largest Of our country's many industries and is
one in which there ia large profits but receives
the attention necessary to develp il. But a large
percentage Of poultry raisers neglect their focks
and when failure comes, lay the blame at the door
Of the birds. This is most unfair.
First determine what kind Of a business you
wish to conduct and then adopt birds that are
suitable to It. II It Is eggs you after don't
lect the meat fowls. and vice versa.
In making your selection Of a bird you should
aim to reap an income from every possible source
and this can best be accomplished through the Sc
lection Of your breed. While do not condemn the
raising Of fowls for the supply Of meat yet most