Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-18
INCREASING POULTRY
PRODUCTS IN AMERICA


conferences at st. Louis that the
poultry products of the United States
could be doubled within a year means
that if everybody in a position to
help did their part $600,000,000 worth
cf food would be added to our supply
this year.
This includes both meat for the ta-
BILE and eggs. Very few farmers prac-
tice a systematic plan of disposing
Of their fowls after they have ceased
to be productive, although it is well
known that fowls of the heavier
breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, cease
to produce a profitable number of
eggs at the end of their second laying
year, and that this holds true of the
lighter breeds, such as the Leghorns,
at the end of their third laying year.
Consequently, if efforts were made to
dispose of all females when their best
laying days were over large guam
tity of poultry meat would be placed
on the market. All poorly developed
chickens should likewise be culled out
and used as meat. This way of dis
posing of unprofitable fowls would
allow the farmer to feed his grain
to younger and more productive fowls.
Caponizing the cockerels that are
not intended for breeding purposes
will not only increase their size, but
will place a more desirable poultry
meat on the market. Another prac-
tice that should be adopted more wide
ly Is that of fattening all chickens
that are to be marketed before they
leave the farm. This can be done cas-
lily by confining the birds for a week
or ten days and feeding them good
fattening ration. They will come to
market then in better condition and
the farmer will receive a profit for
tneir added weight.
The greater production of turkeys,
ducks, geese and guineas, all of which
can be profitably raised and ready
market found in most sections, would
increase the supply of poultry meat
considerably. The production 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, frequently weigh from five
to six pounds at ten 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 8 cents to -
cents, depending upon the current
prices of grain and other feeds.
Increasing the Supply of Eggs.
The number of marketable eggs can
oe increased by following few prac-
tical suggestions. Among the most
important of these are the production
of the infertile egg after the breed
ing season is over, and the proper
handling of eggs by the former be-
fore sending them to market. The in
fertile egg is obtained when all male
birds are removed from the flock.
This does not decrease the number of
eggs produced, but it does increase
greatly their keeping qualities. The
production of the infertile egg and
the proper handling and marketing of
eggs by the producer would increase
tremendously the number Of market
able eggs each year by diminishing the
quantity that are rendered unfit for
food.
An increased production of ducks
eggs is advisable where available mar
kets are found.
The poultry house should be clean
and sanitary and the fowls free from
insect pests, thereby preventing dis
ease and mortality. 1t is estimated
nat nearly $9,OOO,OOO worth of poul-
Try is lost each year through disease,
alone. Special attention should be
given to the feeding and housing of
laying fowls at seasons of the year
when their natural source of food sup
ply is cut off.
General Increase in Poultry Products.
Although the Matching season prop
err should be considered at an end by
May l, it may be feasible in some Sec
tons of the Northern and Northwest
ern part of this country to continue
Matching until the first of June.
Chicks hatched at that time, with
proper feed and management, will
frequently begin laying in January Of
the following year. The maturity Of
fowls hatched late can be greatly in
creased If the mother hens are con-
fined until the chicks are weaned. In
this way feed that is furnished the
chicks produces growth, instead of
emery to follow the mother. Extra
precautions should be taken in the late
spring and early summer to keep the
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