Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-27
WAYS OF BEGINNING A BACK
YARD FLOCK OF FOWLS
Eggs Offer the Cheapest Method
But the Most Work and Time.
Baby Chicks Eliminate Hatch
ing, and Pullets Eliminate
Brooding.
BY John A. FisheI
Practical Poltrymsn

Let us assume that you have de-
tcrmined the purpose of your flock,
its size, and that you have settled on
a particular breed the next thing Is
how shall the start be made
There are four possibilities: ~
eggs for Matching. u day old chicks,
~ pen Of pulIets, ~ mature stock.
Which shall II be-
Some prefer one method of starting
flock Of chickens, and Some another II IS
apparent, however, that the younger one
starts on n chick the longer he has Ia
work, feeding and caring for IT, before IT
attains n producing age. The egg must be
hatched well, the chick reared well, and
the pullet maturcd as layer
One problem IL eliminated by start
ing with chicks; there IS no need tor
successful Matching. In starting with
pulcts one climlnates the work of
broooIng, rearing and culllng the cock
crcls I'm starting with mature stock, ono
eliminates the testing out Of the plllets
for laying abilities and may breed
immediately from stock of which ono
Is sure Therefore, IN discussing the
difference between these methods we
need point nut only the advantages
which accrue from the care Of the stock
IN the stagcs between the ages men
TONED
ruE Matching PRoP0sfTtoN
With n flock of ton laving hens MS
the gnaI. and reckoning TINT hatch
will produce ten healthy chicks from
thirteen eggs lucubated. and that ono
half these chicks will bo cocker"ls we
must start with twcnty-six cggs. or
two settings Tins will insiirc a margin
for culling. also n reasonable risk ~
accidents and other iosscs We bnild
Two ncets m separate pens, not too
much oxpnscd ~ light and draft, make
them az hay or straw. with m inverted
piece &c sod IN the bottom glvc them
i generous sprlnkling ~ lice powder
eecure two sitting hens trF thcm =
day ar So until they become accustomed
tn the ncst9. and tho nests acquire an
even body temperature then piacc tho
eggs under tho hens Provide feed and
water daily. allow room fnr ex"roise
and the hens will do the reef From
now on prepare the coops and runs for
tho Matching time
The merits of ths method slight
| saving in expense. =Ince eggs constitute
| tho cheapest way Of acquiring stock
/ Furthermore, NJ porod 10 the life ~
! the FNtlltfFE JAFHtNfN[ &isfAAft tttb#t'f
/ than hAtchlnR tune " here there are
children rspecially the anticipation p
/ The chicks and tho Joy IL seeing the
j downv fellows tumble into the world
gives the whole process q fascination
which more than repays the extra e.
| fort and study required
II YOU do not care To do the hatch
/ ing yourself lct someone else do IT.
4 ny 80 =, rfFTfEE
! Tins method II securing stock has
developed very highly II tho last few
Years The extensive ise of giant IN
! r,lhators. turning ont thousands oi
chlrkS II tuc has made il possible
| for the poultrYman 10 produce ctIchs
. and deliver them NJ your door Tor a
nominal charge To-day the plan ot
purchasing baby chicks ~ the starter
for q tock II III great favor. by II one
avoids the risk Of poor matches.
Young chcks demand considerable
heat for the first few weeks Il they
are with the hen she VIII regulate thE
herself under reasonable conditions
Otherwise an artificial hover should 10
provided Exercise and little oi tht
ut-ot-,ioors are other necessities. !
place. 10 rim on dry ground II the md
die OF sGnshiny spring lays VIII &c
wonders for the youngsters, oui by al
means avoid dampness and Ire cooi
,lantlng RAYS OF the afternoon sun
Fecd ine food frequently In TACT
Tor the first few weeks constant atten-
ton is the price OF q healthy flock. As
the davs grow warmer and the chicks
grow stronger. a house out-of-doors may
be fitted up, with plenty of runway
the more the better. Cats. hawks, owls
Weascls and rats prey upon chickens, s.
make the house vcrmin-prooi.
BIT WHAT ABOUT PTLLET~
t.nlcss one Is somewhat experienced
IN raising poultry ana knoW> how ~
care for chickens al al age there l.
an advantage III starting with puliets
Tins method Is especially advisable i
one i not over-euthu,la~fic ,boIt poui-
try for the prospect Of immediate
results from ones investment Is 3
powerful incentive - held one 20 a
t4~a By purchasing puilet> you eaI
immediately Iced for laying and begin
------------------------