Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-24

MORE POULTRY PRODUCTS
Those of United States Could Be
Doubled Within Year.
Would Mean SIX Hundred million Dol.
lars Worth Of Food Added to
Our Yearly snpply-Every.
body CaA Help.

The statement made at the recent agri- |
cultural conference at st. Louis that the |
poultry products Of tho United States
could be doubled within year means that
II everybody in q position to help did their
part six hundred million dollars worth of
food would 80 added to our supply this
year.
This includes both meat for the table
and eggs. Very few farmers practice a
systematic plan Of disposing Of their
fowls after they have ceased to be pro-
ductive. although II is we'll known that
fowls Of the heavier breeds, such as the
Plymouth Rocks. cease to produce prof.
table 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. II efforts were made
to dispose Of all females when their best
laying days were over q large quantity
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 disposins of unprofit-
able fowls would allow tho farmer to feed
his grain to younger and more productive
fowls.
Caponizing the cockerels that are not in
tended for breeding purposes will not only
Increase their size but will place a 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 week or 10
days and feeding them a good fattening
ration. They will come to market then In
better condition and the farmer will re-
ceive profit for their added weight
| The greater production Of turkeys.
ducks. geese. and guineas. all Of which
can be profitably raised and a ready mar
ket 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 10 weeks of age. It is
estimated by poultrymen making a spe-
cialty Of growing ducks that the feed cost
per pound Of producing duck meat ranges
from eight cents to ~ cents. depending
upon the current prices Of grain and 9TH
er feeds.
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF EGGS.
The number Of marketable eggs can b
increased by following few practical sug-
gestions. Among the most important Of
these are the production Of the infertile
egg after the breeding season is over. and
the proper handling OF eggs by the farmer
before 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 pro-
duced. but 1t 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 mar
ketable eggs each year by diminishing
the quantity that are rendered unfit for
food.
An increased production Of ducks eggs
is advisable where available markets are
found.
The poultry house should be clean and
sanitary and the fowls free from insect
pests, thereby preventing disease and NOR
tality. 1t Is estimated that nearly 5000
900 worth Of poultry 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 supply
lis cut OF.
GENERAL INCREASE IN POULTRY
PRODUCTS
Although the Matching season proper
should be considered at an end by May
l. it may be feasible in some sections Of
the northern and northwestern part of
this country to continue Matching until
the first Of June. Chicks Matched at that
time. with proper feed and management.
will frequently begin laying In January
of the following year The maturity Of
fowls Matched late can be greatly in
creased II the mother hens are confined
until the chicks are weaned. In this way
feed that is furnished the chicks produces
growth, instead of energy to follow the
mother. Extra precautions should be TAX
en- in the late spring and early summer
to keep the young birds free from lice
and disease. both OF which cause thou
sands to die every year. More general
use Of the incubator and brooder will in
crease considerably the output of chick
ems, and consequently the number of lay
ers the following year.
The United States department Of agri-
culture and the several State agricultural
colleges will be glad to supply helpful in
formation to anyone interested in raising
poultry on . large or small scale.