Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-05-31

HCip 10 AAGSSoSstJ
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Perhaps the fact that the early morn
ing crow of chanticleer does not adj
just itself to the daylight saving law
may explain why the rooster is un-
popular within city confines. Anyway,
the metropolitan prejudice against the
cock crow exists. To meet it the Unit
ed States department of agriculture
suggests roosterless flocks. 1t is point
ed out that hens will lay just as well
without a rooster in the flock, and
eggs not chickens are the principal
product for which town dwellers keep
poultry. Where roosters are objection
able and it is desired to raise chicks
these can be purchased when a few
days old.
Small flocks Of laying hens in town
and city back yards are an important
branch of poultry keeping. Though
the value of each flock's product may
be small, the aggregate is large. The
product Of such a flock, both in eggs
and fowls for the table, may be OBJ
tanned at a relatively low cost, because
of the possibility of utilizing table
scraps and kitchen waste which would
otherwise be thrown away A small
flock of hens, even as few as six or
eight should produce eggs enough,
where used economically, for family
of four or five persons throughout the
entire year, except during the melting
period Of the fall and early winter.
Small Flock Helps.
BY the preservation Of surplus eggs
produced during the spring and early
summer, the period of scant egg pro-
duction can be provided for. The keep
ing Of pullets instead of hens also will
insure the production OF eggs at this
time. Not only will eggs from the
home flock materially reduce the cost
of living, but superior freshness and
quality are in themselves well worth
the effort expended. Eggs are a highly
nutritious food and are so widely used
as to be almost indispensable, while an
occasional chicken dinner is relished
universally.
Objection Is frequently raised to the
keeping of poultry in towns and cities
because of the odor which may result,
and the noise made by the ROSTERS
growing, particularly in the early
morning. In some cases city regula-
tions have been formulated to control
poultry keeping. Where there are city
regulations it is necessary to become
familiar with their provisions and to
conform to them. There is no neces-
slty for the poultry flock to become a
nuisance to the neighborhood when
dropping boards are cleaned daily and
the houses and yards are maintained
in sanitary condition.
The rooster need not be a source of
annoyance. Unless it is intended to
hatch chickens from the flock it is un-
necessary to keep male bird. The
fact that there is no male in the flock
will exert no bad influence on the egg
output. AS a rule, according to the
present practices of the leading poul-
trymen, it is customary to dispose of
the male birds just as soon as the
Matching season is over. This is desir-
able not only from the standpoint OF
eliminating noise, but also as a food
economy measure and in order that
the subsequent prdduction of eggs may
be infertile, as such eggs keep better
and are superior for preserving or foI
marketing. The suburban or city tloch
is often roosterless, while the hens are
required to observe restricted ''metes
and bounds" so that they win nct
stray into the neighboring yards ant
gardens.
oeneral-Purpose Breeds Are Good.
One of the general-purpose breeds
such as the Plymouth Rock, Wyan
Cote, Rhode Island Red, and Orping
ton, is best adapted for general back
yard poultrying, the mature fowls 0.
these breeds, because Of their large
size, making better table fowls thai
the Leghorns. while the young chick
ems for the same reason make bette
friers and rOasters, as compared witt
young OF the egg breeds which ar
only suitable as smaller broilers. TIL
general-purpose breeds are ais
"broody," the hens making good sli
tiers and mothers, which is a decide
advantage when It is desired to hatcl
and to raise chickens, as the hens Q
the egg breeds seldom are broody an
In any event are unreliable sltters an
mothers.
Il IS advisable to keen some Dur