Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-04
BUY HENS NOW
FOR NEXT WINTER
Prediction Freely Made That
Eggs Will Be as Scarce Then
as Are Teeth of Birds That
Produce This Necessary Arti-
Gle of Food.

The people Of Burlington who expect to
have fresh eggs for breakfast and also
anticipate the usual number Of custard
pies and chicken dinners next winter Will
do we'll to consider means Of getting a
back yard poultry plant started this
spring. Those who have studied the
poultry situation carefully are OF the
opinion that good fresh eggs will be about
as scarce as hens teeth by next fall and
winter. Taking the country as whole
poultry fiocks last fall suffered a reduce
ton Of about 40 per cent. from already
depleted stock A great many factors
have led to the reduction Of commercial
poultry focks. OF most Importance Is the
rise In the price Of all poultry grains. A
poultryman now finds himself up against
situation where money won't buy many
of the poultry foods he has been &C
customed to use.
These poultry food problems need not
worry the backyard poultryman who can
maintain his flock largely on table scraps
and surplus vegetables from the garden.
Having a flock Of hens at the back door
does away with the occasion for a lot of
fault-flnding because the garbage man
doesn't come around moro frequently.
There is a doctor here in Burlington
who for the last few years has kept
about twenty-five hens in some boxes Just
back Of his house. Although closely con-
fined. these hens have been good egg
producers and have been kept at cost
far below the value Of the eggs produced.
Just now this flock is averaging about 20
eggs per day. This mans experience
shows very clearly that the lack of space
need not keep city people from maintain.
ing small flock Of hens, so don't tell Mr..
Hoover you can't help out on this poultry
production campaign simply because you
haven't whole city block at your dis
posal.
There are several ways in which the
city dweller may get started In the
poultry business. Probably the best way
Is to buy few hens right now. In little
while some Of the hens can be set and q
Hook OF chickens raised. Another way tc
start is to buy a few day-old chickens
from some reliable breeder. This will b.
little more difficult proposition for the
average man to handle and he will moi
begin to realize results. for severa
months. The way some people do is t.
| walt until next fall and run the chanc,
| OF buying some Gull pullets which tn,
| farmers around Burlington don't want t.
keep. This latter method often results II
discouraged poultryman who spends tn,
winter complaining because the hem
don't lay.
At least two hens should be kept as
source Of egg supply for each member o
the family. 1t is a good plan to start ii
with more than this In the fall and theI
gradually Gull out the ones that do no
start laying early.
Anyone interested in getting a star
with poultry should call at the Farm
Bureau office. Stannard Memorial build
ing. and secure interesting literature OF
poultry raising which has just been issue,
by the United States department Of agri
culture. particularly valuable bulletin
for the city poultryman Is entitled Back
Yard Poultry Keeping" This bulletin an,
others are for free distribution as long q
the supply lasts. The Farm Bureau has
few poultry breeders listed who have boil
hens and day-old chicks for sale. 1t nigh
be we'll for anyone having stock for sal
to send in description Of the same. s.
that those desiring to get start ma,
know where to look for same. Bring you
poultry problems to the Farm Bureau
Mr.. Beach, who is assisting County Agen
Churchill this spring. will be glad to tall
hens" with anyone. anytime.