Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-13
FOUNDATION FOR NEXT
SEASONS POULTRY WORK
There Seems to BE Boom Period
Ahead Which Calls for Increased
Production of Chicks.
LAY GOOD FOUNDATION IN TIME
Success This Year, us Always, De-
ponds Largely Upon Breeding Pens,
Hatching and Brooding-NIakc No
Mistake About Male Birds.

-, |, looks like boom times ahead Of
| mists think otherwise. The end of
.thc war has come with an unqualified
some apprehension exists as TO the
reimbursement TO a peace basis, there
are MS,cn certain G%ts, ,s,niis Sonditi9ns
years to come. The world has been
shattered and partly destroyed. and it
This condition applies to the live
stock industry as forcibly as It applies
TO property We know that many sec
tons OF Europe arc practically dcsti-
tuie OF farm animals. including poul-
try. Such districts must be restock ed.
upon for this huge task. There is a
shortage OF mature poultry in this
footing; refrigerators must be rcplen-
ished with market poultry.
fronts the farmer. If anything, ho
has bigger task to perform now that
peace, has come. Aside from feeding
must now help feed the starving popu-
lations in enemy countries and in neu-
our food supplies to their per-war
basis. 4 big job lies ahead. Let us
plan accordingly. Speed things up!
-, Foundation 1. Laid Now.
The foundation Of the pouitryman's
sprnE as he sSws SH in ,hs aa ati m tnf
his breeding pens, in Matching and
brooding. so shall he reap his harvest
cess or failure depends in large meas
nre upon the spring campaign. Sec
Following points are offered as re-
mindcrs. rather than complete Informal
,ion. which lack of space forbids.
give the breeding pens the best quar-:
tcrS They require more room than
layers; if a high rate. Of fertility is to
be had. This is especially true Of large
units, where many males run together
Breeders should be given the oppor-
tunity of outdoor freedom. Many
poultry raiSerS insist upon yard space
that is equivalent TO free range. Sue
cessiul matinss are seldom obtained in
crowded quarters; jealous males annoy
each other constantly. Eggs Of strong
fertility and pronounced Matching quail
tiles are paramount; otherwise heavy
pens \ co per cent yield of strong.
hatchab!e eggs is infinitely better than
the 50 per cent yield Of weak eggs
Many failures can be attributed to the
dSrsgard Of this elemental condition.
three days after the mails are added
TO, the nock. II is safest. however, TO
allo" about ten days before the eggs
either from pulle;s or from hens which
resume laying after the mott, are likely
smell. Avoid them for patching pur-
poses. Cse only normal, well-shaped
eggs with smooth shells. Collect them
at frequent intervals and store them
in a cool place; n temperature OF about
30 degrees is right.
Making IN breeding Pens.
IL is customary for the poultry keep
er 10 go over his pullets in the fall OF
Inc ihe'r mrst in ro, season, and select
breeders. sending the remainder to
market Or. ii some give promise OF
ZION, even though they would not be
desirable as breeders. they may be
segregated in a separate house CT pen.
The pulletS SO selected have now be-
come yeariings or hens. and are best
for breeders. These are watched dur
ing the mott and through the early win
passed successfully through the mott
and regained their former vigor should
be placed in the breeding pens Re
Ject all specimens which are emaciated.
weak or anemic looking; those whose
p;umase has moth eaten" look. also
attitude.
As a general rule, never use a fowl
which is kn9wn 10 have had serious
be entirely cured, yet the faint OF il
may be visited on the offspring in some
form of constitutional weakness. IL
doesn't pay TO take such chances. As
Ia general practice. it is also a good
plan 10 avoid pullets as breeders. unless
'heh passed through the mott, which
gives them the chance for rest
icdIilnSS, TWO -Scar-OldS and older
stock make the best breeders This
applies 10 females; young males are
always desirable: mature cockcreis
are best
Choice OF Male birds.
Ihat reminds us: We have .'swatted
me rooster" and relcgatcd him 10 an
obscure position ever since the close
81 ias3} hatcGlhing season. because we
he has come into his own again. We
need MIN badly Indeed. one cannot
pc too careful in the choice of males
Ihey constitute one, half. ii not three
fourths. Of the breeding pen
IT goes without saying: Wherever
posslbie use unrelated males. to avoid
the evils of inbrecdiug. II It is neces-
sary TO introduce new blood from out
side sources, SO do for definite pur-
pose, and not promiscuously. Ex-
changing ROSTERS each year 80 many
farmers do avoids inbrccding but nm
less the new males are chosen with a
view to Increased productivcncss ;he
exchange may hc accompanied by
equally bad results in lowering the
standard of laying. In other words
have more. in mind than the simple
infusion of new blood Buy rcIia bic
stock. which will Improve, rather than
"a Wm p a "a zYs n