Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-08
Poultry Raising
Profitable When Thought
w.. And Care Are Given

1ler Keep, ~oHS10eT4n Inc nlsn price VI
feed,
Good poultry raisers keep records
of their hens and Gull out those who
don't produce more than 100 a year.
They keep the eggs Of good layers and
incubate them, thus working up the
laying strain Of their focks.
Hens moult, that is change their old
feathers for new, in late summer, and
then do not lay until feathered again.
Hens Of the so-called meat
breeds" get broody during the sum-
mer, often several times and as it
does not pay to set a hen at that
time. the hen should be "broken up"
This may be done by penning her in a
small coop where, she cannot get to a
nest.
1t isn't we'll to hatch. eggs late in
the spring, or during the summer, for
baby chicks do not thrive we'll in ex-
trenlely hot weather and they will
prove poor winter layers, arriving at
egg-laying maturity iii. the spring
when eggs are cheapest. 4.
Chickens to be killed should not be
fed the day before. The feathers may
be picked while the body is still warm
and bleeding. That's the best method,
as 1t insures a cleaner looking bird. If
you wait until the body is cold YOU
should emerse it for a moment or two
in hot water when The feathers may be
stripped off. Hot water tends to dis
color the skin and thus reduces the
market price.
Poultry raisers make their largest
profits in meat production by selling
when the chickens are young, in the
broiler stage. The feed expense is
then smallest, and the market price
for poultry highest. t&
Cold weather does not harm little
chicks If they are kept dry. OF
course they need the warmth Of the
brooder, II. not running with the
mother hen, but they should have ac-
cess to the fresh air.. and if kept in
EASEMENT or chicken house during the
first few weeks Of their. lives. there
must be plenty Of ventilation.
Be sure that the water in:the brood
er jug is kept warm, especially should
it be emptied and filled with not wa
ter In the early evening when the
baby chicks are going to sleep. An
old flannel rag or piece of shawl, or
something like. that should be wrap
ped around the jug SO the chicks may
cuddle up closely to- the heat at times.
When days warm up n you notice
that the chicks are spending more and
more Of their time out Of the brood
er, you may keep the jug warm at
night only. Then, in a little while,
you an dispense with the brooder and
let the chicks spend their nights in a
| box in the chicken house. Given free
access to the roosts they soon will
leave their box and go to the roosts
at night.
Small chicks should not be kept
with hens in a small yard. The older
birds drive the young ones from
! feeding pans and from roosts.
When you put a strange chicken
into q pen do 1t at night when the
others are on the ,roost.
Baby chicks Matched in January or
early February..will be large enough
! in March or April for you to kill off
the roosters. They make fine bsoilers
at that age
Leghorn and Minorca chicks Matched
in the winter months or even in March
wilt begin laying, in September. The
larger breeds are a little later.
BOOSTERS you L are r. going to kill
lehould be penped UP in close quarters
for sfattening and fed all they will
SsWhat profit is there in poultry y
That's a question one reader asked.