The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-01-13
POULTRY INDUSTRY
Flock of 500 Full Blooded, White Leg
horns Proves Good Bust
ness Investment.

ness investment.
G. A. Lundine and Son, Elmer, Oper-
ate Poultry Farm About 3 Miles
East of Milaca.
The poultry industry first started in
the United States about 1879. There
were then 1O2,272,135 fowls in this
country. In 1900 all the poultry in
the United States was valued at $780,
891 ,877 and the value of the number
of eggs produced that year was $144,-
286,37O. The poultry business has ad-
vanced rapidly the last few years and
today egg production in this country
is classed as one of the billion-dollar
industries. A farmer in southern
California in the year: 1918 cleared
$4,000 on 1000 white Leghorns.
Poultry raising is in it's infancy in
Minnesota, but it may some day be one
of the big industries of the state. Not
many farmers in Mile Laos county
are seriously interested in poultry but
Messrs. Lundine, Walker, Wassenaar
and few other individuals have in
vested considerable time and money in
the industry. -
The writer spent most enjoyable
afternoon last week on G. A. Lundine's
farm. Mr.. Lundine and son, Elmer,
have flock Of 500 full FLOODED, white
Leghorns. The layers and breeders
are kept separate, each occupying one
house. The houses, which arc built
according to the university plan, Is
by 80 feet, are exceedingly well light
ed and ventilated. The roof is slop-
ing, the back and front walls being S
and 2 feet in. height. Provision is
made for keeping the fowls warm at
night by interlining the roof above the
roosting pcrches- with tar paper and
hanging in front of the perches a
rolled canvas curtain that can be
lowered on particularly cold nights.
The floor is covered with clean straw
and Mr.. Lundine says cement floor
is most desirable. =.
Trap-nests are employed and daily
record is kept Of the eggs laid by each
chicken. Every fowl wears leg bands
of aluminium or celluloid bearing a
number. If the maximum number of
eggs is to be secured the layers must
be furnished with all the foods includ-
ed in an egg. A fresh egg is sup
posed to contain about 70 per cent wa
ter and it is therefore necessary to
furnish the chickens with plenty of
good water. Mr.. Lundine has porta-
BILE drinking fountains which arc about
4 feet in height, two feet IN diameter
and have lamp in the central part to
keep the water warm. The fountains
are constructed so that practically no
dirt can drop into the water. The feed
boxes are kept filled with dry mash.
Mr.. Lundine says there are many ex-
ccllent prepared foods en- the market
but they all are rather expensive. He
prepares his own feed by mixing 100
pounds of bran, 100 pounds of shorts,
| 100 pounds Of ground barley or oats
and 10 or Is pounds of meat scraps.
The mash for the breeders does not
contain any meat scraps because they
would force them to lay. The meat
scraps can be purchased for SIS pei,
100 pounds. Each fowl also daily re-
ceives about one cubic inch Of gerni-
mated oats seeds. The houses are
furnished with boxes of charcoal, lime
stone gravel and dust baths It has
been found that hens lay best with
approximately Il hours of light. Lam
terms that hang in the houses are
lighted at dusk and allowed to burn
brightly until about $50, thus fur
nishing the fowls with approximately
the same light conditions as are af-
forded by nature during the spring
months.
Mr.. Lundine frequently culls his
f1ocks and he says the Importance of
this practice cannot be overempha-
sized. Last month he received 70 eggs
day from 100 chickens, making an
egg production of 20 per cent, and this
month it will be about90 per cent. Soon
he expects to commence selling his
eggs in the New York market, where
the price per dozen is 20 cents higher
than in the Minneapolis market.
The eggs which are produced for
breeding purposes are Matched in an
incubator. About 1000 eggs are in
cluded in one Matching and the NOR
taaity is approximately 80 per cent,
that is 100 eggs would produce 70
chicks fhQt would live