Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-20

I60-y 03f-OIO Jull8n LAWS Oh maCuidS,
Maine, is the boy who wrote better
story about raising chickens than any Of
the other 250 members enrolled in Boys
and Girls Poultry Clubs. He tells how
be made profit of S1S.35 from two set
tiugs of eggs. All eggs are golden these
days.
HOW I RAISED MY CHICKENS
This year of 1915 hatched and reared
my first poultry under the supervision Of
P. B. Burnham, our local leader.
My brother having been member Of
the club for two years previous, I be-
came very much interested In the work
by tending bis chicks few times for
him. In fact was 80 interested that ]
could hardly wait for the time to pass
away when l could be old enough to be-
come member. Nevertheless, waited
patiently for my tenth birthday that
came January 7, 1915, so of course l
thought I would try my success and
Joined right off.
April thirteenth, with thirteen Barred
Rock eggs under each hen. l got nv
eggs from my brother. set them in
boxes lined with hay chaf, thoroughly
saturated with sulphur to keep away
mites and lice. During their setting
period. kept them we'll provided with
fresh water and cracked corn. / also
supplied them with box Of gravel mix
ed with ashes to burrow in. didn't
cover my hens over as thought It was
better to have them so they could eat at
any time.
As this was my first experience of
course was anxious for them to hatch
so tended them carefully and watched
them closely.
On the morning of May third when 1
went to feed my hens much to my sur
prise discovered that there were thir-
teen chicks under one hen and twelve
chicks under the other. put them in q
large box and kept them without food
for As hours. Then fed them chick feed
until they were large enough to digest
cracked corn which was their main food
thereafter.
For drinking fountain used small
pan. I kept this filled with fresh water
all the time.
1 didn't keep my chickens yarded but
let them run at large. In doing this
they bad fresh sod every day and got
plenty of green food and exercise. I
threw cracked corn out to them three
times day. housed them In barrels
that were kept thoroughly clean and we'll
saturated with sulphur until their moth
or left them. Then I put them In pen
with rOosts.
At this age was able to distinguish
the sexes. found that had twelve
roosters and thirteen pullets. But one
day I met with Q misfortune, the cat
caught and killed one of my roosters
leaving me eleven.
The first of August my broilers aver.
aging three pounds apiece, / sold ten OF
them at twenty cents per pound amount
ing to $500, keeping the best one to
take to the exhibits. My thirteen pullets
are valued ut $500 and the cockerel at
$50. This is . total Of S20.50. I fed
soc worth of chick feed and $4.00 worth
of cracked corn. Ny labor amounted to
Sr.85. could have done this cheaper l
think, but spent more time than was
necessary a thought may as we'll be
feeding chickens as driving sheep, run
ming after colts or carrying wood. The
eggs were 81 90, making the entire cost
Of S7. Is, leaving mo profit Of 1885.
The old saying is that, "Thirteen is an
uplucky number" but We came to the
conclusion that 1t is not always true as
set my hen the thirteenth day with thir-
teen eggs and hatched thirteen chickens.