Milford chronicle., 1918-03-08
The Food Administrators Ruling
Affecting The Poultry Industry
By }. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights Re5e,Ted1

War is just what the famous General
Sherman said il was. II is certainly as
true today as it was when made. if ac-
counts coming TO US Of the world strife
are even slightly true and we believe
they are.
Possibly the worst feature in connec-
ton with the struggle now going on in
Europe, so far as Americans are concern
ed. is that we are called upon to give
TO the cause Of our Country our beloved
sons as living sacrifices for the cause Of
! humanity and right. This sacrifice is now
being made by thousands Of American
families and while the burden is inieed
a hard one, yet 1t is made willingly that
our Country should receive the honor and
glory of having decided the strife.
But there are other things in connec-
tion with and growing out Of the war
which every American faces. Owing to
our exceedingly prosperous and fertile
fields, and the ability Of our manufac-
! turers to cope with a really big situation,
we are called upon, in addition to fur
nishing much of the munitions Of war for
/ all of the countries now engaged on the
/ side Of the Allies, to practically feed the
world. In order to do this every Amer
/ lean must make as much Of a sacrifice
as possible.
In this connection we viii dwell this |
time upon the recent ruling of the Food |
Administration with relation to the chick |
en- or poultry industry. Poultrymen ave /
told that they viii not be allowed to kill |
any stock until well into the summer, in
an effort to conserve the egg supply This
order has been received by poultrymen
with much comment, and while l do
u
Administrator in any respect, yet it ap-
pears to me that this is indeed a most
unwise move.
There never was, l suppose, a poultry !
man or breeder who would be guilty Of
killing off his laying stock unless he was {
unbalanced mentally, especially when I
strictly fresh eggs are bringing IS cents {
per dozen. The order as eminating from
the Food Administrator, however, does O
not specify laying hens but takes in all h
classes, which Of course includes the C
drones and nom producers as we'll as those
that are doing their bit toward helping Il
supply the world with egg nuggets t
Poultrymen throughout the country are $
at a loss to know just what to do in order g
that all Of the orders 0 fthe Food Admin r
stration may be complied with; in view n
Df the many conflicting edicts issued. In a
The first place, we are told that it is alb h
iolutely necessary to conserve our grain L
lroudcts, and as a result the people are 81
oday eating many different kinds Of mix
ures in the place Of the good old whole OF
iome flour which we are accustomed to- br
But humans are not the only ones that F.
onsume grain food, for ii is absolutely is
ssential 20 a good egg yield TO feed the u.
lens good wholesome grains, and these, ca
t the present time, can only be purchas- '1
d at an enormous cost. We do not de- 81
ire to cut this food from the laying hens va
$ the cost Of keep is offset by the pro- ee
uction Of eggs which can be disposed Of a
a price that win justify its feeding.
But how about those birds that are NOT
ying and will not lay until possibly late
the summer and then, perhaps only AE
few eggs? These we are ordered not eN
Kill or dispose Of, but by the order pr
e are expected TO continue TO throw 20
lem good grain every day. and TO my cal
ind thar is nothing short OF a waste I
ms particular kind Of a bird, namely the dul
one or non-layer, will consume just as yea
ueh 1000 as one that is laying and il no,
III yield nothing in return. Yet the chi
1od Administrator says, Don't kin or hia
spose Of them" Now, the specific point -
=, F'i S'40h - now 10 comply con
IN both Of these orders. Certainly to
IMPLY with that of conserving grain e
cans the killing off or Kidding the plant Elh
all useless fowls, while to comply with not
Administrators recent order not to Val'
or dispose of any fowls means to dis or
ey its order to conserve grain. Which in
all it be? We desire to rigidly abide pen
all orders emenating from the Gov e!
lment, but we have right to demand var