Connecticut western news., 1921-10-27

egg production, but the bank balance ] is of more importance to the average person than such satisfaction. In building poultry house superfuous precautions against the weather are frequently taken. Warmth is sought ! at greatly increased overhead ex- pense by putting in double walls, double floors, interlaid paper, cell ings, etc., when single thicknesses we'll laid to prevent drafts are suffi- cient except in localities where the winters are extremely severe. No Need for Ventilating Systems.
 Complicated and costly ventilating systems are sometimes used when just as good results would be ob- tained in the production of eggs by using windows and open fronts, closed when necessary by glass and cloth. Wood has been found the best material for house construction in most cases, although satisfactory buildings of other materials are in [ use. Concrete makes good floor if built over a well-drained foundation, but if the poultry house is built en-
 
 be too damp.
 Beginners are inclined to be at tracted by labor-saving devices, oome of which unquestionably facilitate the handling of the flock, but there is another factor to be considered of equal importance with the saving of time. That factor is the close asso- citation of the owner with his flock. The man who is with his hens much of the time and uses plenty of elbow grease will have better success than as much as possible. In large plants this rule would hardly hold.
 Tonics and various connections add to the expense of maintaining many flocks when they might very we'll be eliminated. Plenty of feed of the right kind, exercise, and comfortable quarters make the best health regu- lators and are unequaled as stinu- lants of egg production. It has been the experience of poultry raisers that sick hen is best treated by an appli- cation of the hatchet.
 Strange to say, the inexperienced person who is tempted to spend mon- ey for unnecessary construction in the house and superfuous equipment is often inclined to be niggardly when it comes to paying out money for the foundation of his flock, prices for market poultry serving as his guide as to what is the proper price to pay. It is not good business to pay fancy prices to obtain birds of the highest excellence for it takes an experienced poultryman to real ize on their possibilities. A lnoder- ate price for birds of good laying strain, if egg production is the prin- cipal objective, will prove a good investment Later it may pay to buy some more expensive stock if the development of the business and the ability Cf the owner warrant 1t. Fancy birds in the hands of a poor poultryman will soon deteriorate into into a mediocre flock.
 If the location or a poultry busi- ness is matter of choice, there are a number of things to be considered Often the proximity of a good Or special market for eggs and chickens will determine the selection. Ther there is the price of available land. Ordinarily very high-pr.ced land would be a considerable handicap. Interest on thousand-dollar acres eats up the profits on many hens Rich land is not an essential or eve1 desirable; in fact, light soil is the best as it is well drained and ;on
 
 flock. However, it is a good plan tc have land that will grow a crop c1 green feed, an essential for health and maximum production.
 Although labor-saving devices ma!