Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-12
HATCH CHICKS NOW
FOR WINTER FRYERS
Will Be Broilers by Christmas, and
Pullets Should Be Laying
Next Summer.

Every family whose home affords suf-
chicks now as can be raised on the
available ground. Chicks Matched at
this time of, the year will be of fine
broiling size by Christmas. and the pull
lets, while they are not likely to lay
next spring, will begin laying early in
the summer. when the hens and the
pullets matched early this season are
in the mott.
Every indication points to high prices
for eggs and table fowls of all kinds
during the coming winter and spring.
1t is no news to say that meats or all
kinds are high in price and are con-
stantly going higher: SO the only So
luton Of the problem of how properly
to feed a family lies in the raising OF
poultry IL it is at all possible
For Average Family.
The average family of FIVE persons
will find that if $50 chicks are Matched
the number will be none too large.
However, this must be governed by
the amount of space available.
In the semi suburban parts Of the
District. where rear yards OF reason
able size are the usual thing. it is per-
fectly feasible to hatch and take care
of about 100 late chicks. Taking care
Of them means not only feeding them
properly, but keeping their quarters
scrupulously clean and in perfect SAM
tary condition. Cared for in this manner
100 chicks can be raised on a surpris-
ingly limited area without any losses
from sickness.
Using a couple of piano boxes and
few boards, a house can be built that
will afford all the comfortable shelter
the chicks will need. Proper ventilation
and care in keeping the house cream,
with a litter of straw or leaves six or
eight inches deep on the floor, and the
light that will be afforded by single
four-paned window sash, VIII be all
that is necessary.
Place such a house at one end of
yard ten or twelve 1eet woe ana
weather of late summer and fall space
up the soil of the yard once week
and there is no reason why the chicks
should not thrive as wen as chicks
housed in luxurious and expensive quar-
tiers with acres of range.
Incubator Is Best.
Eggs from summer layers in good
condition and on open range usually
are strongly fertile and hatchable. and
chicks from such eggs break Out of
the shells husky and hustling from the
start. Naturally it will be necessary to-
mate up a breeding pen in order to OBJ
tain Matching eggs, as nearly all poul-
trymen nowadays have adopted the
practice of removing the males from
the laying fiocks as soon as the regu-
lar breeding season is over. Most poul-
trymen however, viii not object to
hatching eggs for late chicks; indeed.
in many parts of the country the sup
plying of eggs for late Matching has in
recent years developed into profitable
branch of the poultry business The
of such eggs and the
INABILITY of the chicks Matched from
them are due to the fact that the hens
have all the green stuff they will eat.
and in addition have a good supply of
animal food in the form of grasshop
pers, worms and such things.
1t is best to use an incubator for
Matching rather than to depend on
hens In hot weather even the broodiest
of hens may turn cranky and refuse to
remain on the job. in which case the
eggs probably will spoil.
a small incubator holding fifty to
sixty eggs can be bought for as little
as SIS, and these small machines give
good results. They oc-
cupy little space. require little care. use
little oil and deliver the goods. in the
form of properly Matched chicks. about
as well as do the larger machines.
Furthermore incubators are not like |
ly to become infested with mites and
other insect pests. as even the best |
kept hens are likely to do. A mother /
hen with even few lice or mites will
fnfallibly transmit the pests to every |
chick in her brood. and this means |
trouble for the poultryman.
Use the same care in incubating the |
eggs as you would at any other season |
If the year. Turn them at least once a |
5ay-some practical pouItfymen turn /
he eggs twice daily-and test on the /
seventh and fourteenth days. remov-
ing infertile eggs or those with dead
germa II the weather is dry. It win be /
we'll to sprinkle the eggs with luke
farm water every other day for the