The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1920-03-11
POULTRY MAGAZINE PUBLISHES
ARTICLE BY IiYNDEN MAN

industry and information about the
new methods, are given in an article
by Harry Berrnink of Lynden, feat
ured in the Pacific Poultryman this
month.
The following is the article:
Looking back eight years to the
time | started in the poultry bust
ness, 1t makes one sit hp in amaze
ment at the progress and changes
that have developed in so short
time.
Previous to that time. | think it
is safe to say that there were prac-
tically no commercial fiOcks that av-
eraged more than 80 per cent pro-
duction for the fall and winter
months.
Even eight years ago person
taking three or four cases of eggs
into Belingham grocery would
receive look of astonishment and
be asked how long he had been hold
ing them. After convincing them
that they were fresh. they would take
them without any grading as to pee
wees, pullets, etc. In those days
there were so few eggs laid in the
winter that they were glad to get
fresh eggs and did not worry as to
size.
+ l well remember a few years ago
asking a we'll known poultryman who
had $500 birds, what production he
was getting. He answered me and
said, 81 got $50 eggs yesterday, l
can't make them lay in the winter
This gentleman during the spring and
summer months would send 35 to
40 cases per week. In talking to
this same man a few weeks ago he
told me that he was getting over
so per cent production this year.
Quite change.
! Eight years ago none of us knew
what it was to have bird break
down from overlaying. or what a,
false mott was. l have often Won
dered how old-timers stayed with
the game with the old lamp brood
ers. no effective way of keeping down
the lice and before artificial light
ing was practiced.
| 1t is possible now thru the State
Colleges. Experiment Stations and
poultry press to obtain more practi-
cal knowledge regarding the care of
poultry in a year for few cents than
could formerly be obtained by ten
years of hard work and worry and at
cost of often hundreds of dollars
| l think now that one of the great
est traps the beginner gets into is
forcing for too great a production.
especially ~in October and November.
Just a few days ago l heard man
who had the first flock of pullets he
ever owned laying strong 80 per
cent. tell an experienced poultryman
that he was beating him all to pieces.
Yes, this can be done for few
weeks but if this gentleman who was
getting so per cent two weeks ago,
is getting over 35 per cent six weeks
| from now l will miss my guess,
When birds are brought to such alb
normal production they will soon
begin to get light, get lame and be-
fore the amateurs unframed eye
notes the signs, 1t Is too late to ward
off rs per cent mott.
About two lessons are usually re-
uuired before the beginner really
learns this to be fact. An expert
enced feeder carefully noting the
signs, can obtain the maximum pro-
duction and maintain the health of
his flock. 1t Is safe rule to hold
the pullcts between SO ad 90 per
cent production and all strong, well
grown stock should nold tnat aver
age from October to September lst.
or 175 eggs per hen per year.
One of the greatest problems the
breeder is up against today is to pro-
duce a bird with constitution strong
enough to stand up under this heavy
feeding.
l will briefly outline the policy we
are following with our breeding
stock.
We now have $50 breeders all pick
ed with the trapnest. These birds
are practically all thru the molt and
are plump and looking fine. They
have not had light turned on them
and have been held back from egg
production and If our calculations
are correct, we expect to have them
in full laying by February 1st. De-
cember 10th we gathered only
eggs from these $50 hens and re-
member not a Gull in the bunch.
When these birds come into full-
LAYING, their eggs will be strong ana
should produce strong, vigorous