The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-08-31
PREM MOORE TELLS
HOW TO RAISE Hens
SPECIALIST FINDS LATAH COUN-
TY FARMERS INTERESTED IN
POULTRY INDUSTRY

POULTRY INDUSTRY
A total of 238 people interested in
better and more profitable poultry
attended the ten poultry improvement
meetings held in Latah county last
week. Prem Moore, poultry special
list, of the extension division of the
University of Idaho, was the principal
speaker at the meeting and worked
in cooperation with County Agent O..
S. Fletcher. Interest shown at these
meetings indicate that farmers of La
tab county are coming more and
more to appreciate the Importance of
good poultry on the farm. Attention
is called to the fact that there was
an average attendance of almost "a
at each meeting, even though the
meetings were held during the rush
of harvest work.
At each meeting Mr. Moore discuss
ed culling, breeding, feeding and hous
ing of the farm flocks. He pointed
out that for flock to be profitable,
one must Gull out the low producing
hens, and gave demonstration on
how to select good hens from poor
ones. He emphasized that while one
could be reasonably successful in
-culling out poor individuals, the best
way to get profitable production was
to breed good chickens so that little
culling need be done. Information
was given on the proper mating of
flocks and on the care and manage
ment of young chikens.
Predicts Better Management
Mr.. Moore stated that at the pres
ent time the egg market seemed to
be somewhat depressed, but predict
ed a better future. He pointed out
that the many strikes that are on in
the country at the present time are
depressing the egg market, and that
Chinese eggs are brought into this
country at price that depresses the
market here He also pointed out that
a tariff was to be laid on imported
eggs, but that it would not be as high
as it should be to give proper pro-
lection to American egg producers.
Among the points Mr.. Moore stress
ed are the following:
l. Keep only good hens. You need
not start with several hundred high
producing birds. In fact, it is better
to start with a limited number and
increase the flock from this tounda
tion. One stands a better chance to
succeed if he builds up from the bot
tom.
2. A flock should average 200 eggs
per hen. A flock averaging $50 may
be profitable but the 200-egg flock
will eat little more and will be much
more profitable.
8. Good COWS and good hens are a
combination that is hard to beat on
the farm. If one is to produce eggs
economically, he must have good cows
to produce skim milk with which to
feed the laying hens. Skim milk is
the cheapest and best source of ami
NAL protein.
4. Feeding is one of the greatest |
problems in profitable egg produc-
ton. Conditions vary so that no set
feeding formula can be given. How
ever, the first requirement is a bali
anced ration. A balanced ration is
not difficult thing to figure out
1t is simply a ration in which the pro- 1
tein feeds are the proper proportion
to the carbohydrates, or starchy feeds.
5. If the hens are to produce, they
must be kept comfortable. They
should not be allowed to set their feet
on the ground during cold weather.
Growing chickens should be allowed
to range, but laying hens should be
we'll housed and not allowed a lot of
range. In winter, they should not be
allowed on the ground, but in the sum-
mer they can be allowed a small
range not larger than the hen house.
The whole chicken house should be
used as scratching shed. A special
shed is not necessary.
In concluding his lectures, Mr.
Moore stated that one need not expect
% get more out of the poultry indus
,ry than they put into it. H. stated
hat to be successful one must study
chicken and poultry production and
lpply the knowledge gained. Mr..
Moore called attention to three bulle-
ins which he has written and which
lave been published by the University
II Idaho and the experiment station,
md stated that copies of these bulle-
fns can be secured by writing to
county Agent o. s.. Fletcher, at Mos
,ow. These bulletins are: "Hous-
ng Farm Poultry; Feeding for Egg I
and Poultry Husbandry {
n Idaho"