Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-06

big profits, but that on the whole the
operations in the storage of poultry and
eggs, especially the latter, are on very
narrow margin. For instance, the re-
ports from the Bureau of Mar6 6ets, United
States Department OF Agriculture, show
that for three years the total operations
represented an investment of nearly
$3.50, 900 900, with q net profit of less than
per cent not allowing anything for
interest ON the investment.
Now is the time to use artificial Illu-
mInstion in the laying houses II you
would have spnngtime production from
the flock. Lengthen the afternoons two
or three hours and the mornings should
be started a couple of hours earlier by
turning on the lights. Aim to have about
fourteen hours of light, which corresponds
to the length of the spring and esrty
summer day.
MORE Blaps-MoRE VENTILATION.
It is always hsd to crowd house with
too many birds. But if you must crowd
temporarily, as in the case of delays in
making suitable extensions, be sure TO
provide additional ventilation and spo-
Cial sttention to cleanliness.
Az has been pointed out IN these col
umns before, Gull the pullets al the be
ginning of the laying season as well as
at the end. You can afford to feed
inferior layers through the winter months
Fatten them for market Take your loss
now while il is small
Cold weather takes the pep out
Of mites and other verrnin, nevertheless
some precautions should be taken II s
well 20 give the perches a good dose Of
some reliable insectjcide once or twice
during the winter months, if only 20
check the multiplication Of these pests
when warm weather returns
Pullets brought in from colony houses
on range which were not equipped with
perches some times refuse to take places
on roosts, and may crowd into corners
in the lsying house. BY all mesns dis
courage this habit. IL Is unhrslthful and
hsrd on the plumage.
The proper WAY 10 hold fowl, both
from the standpoint Of the birds com
fort and that Of the attendant l. with
the fowls head toward YOU, with the
breastbone resting on yo'Ir forparTls and
your fingers grasping the fowls logs,
To carry the bird, tuck the fowl under
your arm. in the same position. approxI-
mately. and the pressure Of your arm
and body will prevent the bird from
Tapping its wings Here is another
point to remember. In making an cx
OF fowl, If one wing Is held
against the birds body IN folded
position. as in holding thc hird down
on a table, the other wing will remain
folded II 8 fowl cannot flap both
wings it will not flap either Of them
FACTORS IN IDEAL POULTRY HOUSE
No habitstion is complete without
sunlight, and in poultry buildings the
aim should be TO have the sunlight
food every part Of the interior. To
10 this ample windows are necessary.
and so located in the front wall tha
they admit sunlight at q wide angle
Too much glass is likely 10 mskc
he interior cold, therefore In addition
70 the windows IT Is advisable to provide
openings which can be shut off with
rames covered with muslin This Cur
ain material. being porus. admits free
lir. but without draft In arm westher
10Th curtains and windows car b5
altogether and the house Is
rirtually an open-front structure.
Tight rear and end walls, tight roof
dry floor. front wall arranged with
windows and curtains, cleanliness through
'ut and no overCrowdlng-th are
he factors that make an ideal polll. /
~ ho.ise, in which the fowls will thrive +
Neglect these conditions and you might /
Is well abandon the idea Of keeping
because they will not return /
i Drnflt