Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-07
M0RE..CHeKtNS-
U. S. Poultry Products Could Be
Doubled Within. Year.
This Would Mean se00. 00O, 900 Worth Of
Food Added to Our supply
This Year.

Inc statement made at the recent agr1-
cultural conference at st. Louis that the
poultry products of the United states
could be doubled within a year means
that If everybody in position to help did
their part s6O0,O0O 900 worth of food would
be added to our supply this year.
MARKETING MEAT.
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 pTo-
ductive. although 1t is well known tluB
fowls of the heavier breeds. such as u
Plymouth Rocks, cease to produce pro -
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, If 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 cnlled and used as
meat. This way of disposing of unprof-
table fowls would allow the farmer to
feed his grain to younger and more pro-
ductive fowls.
Caponizing the cockerels that are not
tended for breeding purposes will not
only increase their size but will place a
more desirable poultry meat on the mar
ket. Another practice that should be
adopted more widely is that of fattening
all chickens that are to be marketed be-
fore they leave the farm. This can be
done easily by combining the birds for a
week or 10 days and feeding them a good
fattening ration. They will come to mar
ket then in better condition and the farm
er will receive a profit for their added
weight.
The greater production of turkeys.
ducks. geese. and guineas. all of which
can be prof1tably raised and a ready mar
ket found in most sections. would in
crease the supply OF poultry meat con-
ederably. The production Of ducks es-
pecially 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 fire.
auently weigh from to pounds at 10
weeks of age. 1t is estimated by poultry
men making a speciality of growing ducks
that the feed costs per pound of produce
Ing duck meat ranges from cents to u
oents. depending upon the current prices
OF grain and other feeds.
THE EGG BUSINESS.
The number of marketable eggs can be
increased by following a few practical
suggestions. Among the most important
of these are the production OF the infer
and the proper handling of eggs by the
farmer before sending them to market.
The infertile egg is obtained when all
male birds are removed from the flock
This does not decrease the number of
eggs produced, but 1t does increase
greatly their keeping qualities. The pro-
ducton. of the infertile egg and the prop
er handling and marketing of eggs by the
producer would increase tremendously
the number Of marketable eggs each year
by diminishing the quantity that are rem
dered unfit for food.
An increased production Of ducks eggs
is advisable where available markets are
found.
The poultry houge should be clean and
sanitary and the fowls free from insect
pests. thereby preventing disease and
mortality. It is estimated that nearly
50 900 900 worth of poultry is lost each year
through disease alone, Special attention
should be given to the feeding and hous-
ing of laying fowls at seasons of the year
when their natural source of food supply
IL cut off. =. - --.,.- o.. ..,s<
Although the Matching season proper
should be considered at an and. by May /.
H. may be feasible. IN some sections of. the
northern and northwestern parts of this
country to continue Matching until the 1st
of June. Chicks hatcher at that time with
proper feed and management will fire.
quently begin laying in January. the next
year. The maturity of fowls Matched late
can be greatly incl eased if the mother
hens are confined until the chicks are
weaned In this way feed that is fur
nished the chicks produces growth. in
stead of energy to follow the mother.
Extra precautions should be taken in the
late spring and early summer to keep
the young birds free from lice and dis
ease, both of which caused thousands to
die every year More general use OF the
Incubator and brooder will increase con-
siderably the output Of chickens and con-
sequently the number Of layers the follow.
Ing 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.