Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-06

sides the pleasure of keeping ac-
counts, there is considerable satisfac-
ton in knowing that the flock has
been profitable, and that there has
been n steady increase in profits as
result of improving the flock by care
full breeding.
Results i'm Egg Production
For the sake of comparison, let us
take the egg production of Il flock of
so fowls in 1907. The number of eggs
, laid that year was 1895. From then
on there was n steady increase up to
1914, in which year the egg produc-
| ton was S.014. For the ten months,
ending October 81, 1916, the number
of eggs laid by the same sized flock
was 1877.
BY systematic breeding there was
a steady increase in the egg yield
For the first four years after 1907,
! the average number of eggs laid was
5,429, or an average annual increase
of nearly 81 per cent. During tie
years 1914 to 1916, inclusive, the in
/ crease in eggs over 1907 was more
than 100 per cent, with practically
! the same number of fowls. Care in
/ breeding, therefore, has its effects in
more prolific laying.
breeding Larger Fowls
| The weight of the fowls can also
| be increased. Census reports show
that the size of the average farm fowl
| is small. To increase the weight of
fowls; by careful breeding is to lay
the foundation for more profitable
poultry keeping. A few simple prin-
ciples of selection in breeding are as
| follows:
vigor and health in both males and
females are necessary in successful
breeding. Next, the form of the
, breeders should be considered. For
| increasing the size of the chick, birds
with long bodies, good width between
the thighs, and long breast-bones
should be chosen. These traits are
| transmitted, which is the basis for
larger hens with a greater proportion
of meat. In ten years ] have been
able to increase the size of my fowls
nearly SO per cent.
From the standpoint of meat pro-
duction, this increase in weight is very
important. All kinds of meat, includ-
ing poultry, are very high in price
The minimum estimate of poultry
! production is about 900,000,0O0 fowls
q year. On the basis of an increase
] in weight of IA pounds per fowl,
| this would mean an annual increase
of 1.125, 100000 pounds. On the basis
of 20 cents pound this increase in
weight would mean about $225, 000,-
|
and poultry raisers.
Making Profits
| 1t must be REMEMBERED that the
producing power of a flock of farm
| poultry is not limited to eggs and
meat alone. The value of poultry ma
nure must not be overlooked. 1t con-
| tains three essential plant-food ele-
ments in about the right proportion
of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and pot
tash. But this is merely an incidental
source of income in poultry keeping.
The meat side of poultry raising,
as shown above, is a big factor.
! After their usefulness in egg produc-
| tion is over, hens can be sold for table
use. Cockerels can also be made to
yield a handsome profit. In Matching
chicks to maintain the number of
fowls desired for laying purposes,
insertion date January 6.
about half the number are usually
cockerels. If Matching begins early,
! the cockerels can be fitted for a
broiler trade. These bring a high
price and good profits. Later cock
erels can be fitted for a roaster trade
The best oockerels should be selected
for breeding on the farm, or for sale
as standard bred birds. The dual
purpose breeds-that is, fowls which
are good layers and make good table
| birds--are especially adapted to the
making of profits on farms.
! In raising fowls for either eggs or
meat, the farmer has an advantage
over the commercial poultry raiser
The wide range fowls have on farms
| for many months of the year. which
enables the fowls to gather natural
food at practically no cost, gives the
| farmer q big advantage over his COM
petitors I'm the poultry field, The
| farmer can produce eggs and table
fowls much cheaper than can poultry
keepers who have to purchase all
! feeding stuffB, These advantages the
| farmer should realize, especially as
both eggs and poultry are now high
in price and are likely to remain so.
Let me show the profits have made
from a small flock during the past
two years!
1914 1915