The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-01-20
OVERHEAD DOWN
AND PROFITS UP
rride in Fine Looking Equipment
May Be an Expensive
Luxury.

Simple methods and simplicity il
buildings, equipment, and rations have
much to do with the success Of poul
trymen There is a mistaken idea
among many inexperienced poultry
raisers that the more elaborate the
preparations made for conducting a
plant or for caring for small flock
the better the chance of success. The
safer way is to keep down expenses
as much as possible without interior
ing with the health, comfort, and nour-
ishment of the birds.
1t is natural to take pride in fine
looking building provided with all the
refnements that have been designed
to save labor and stimulate egg pro-
duction, but the bank balance is of
more Importance to the average per-
son than such satisfaction. In build
ing poultry house superfuous precau-
tions against the weather are frequent
ly taken. Warmth is sought at greatly
increased overhead expense by putting
in double walls, double floors, interlaid
paper, ceilings, etc, when single thick
nesses well laid to prevent drafts are
sufficient except in localities where the
winters are extremely severe.
Complicated and costly ventilating
systems are sometimes used when just
as good results would be obtained in
the production of eggs by using win
dows and open fronts, closed when
necessary by glass and cloth. Wood
has been found the best material for
house construction in most cases, al
though satisfactory buildings of other
materials are in USE Concrete makes
a good floor if built over well-drained
foundation, but if the poultry house is
built entirely of this material it is
liable to be too damp.
The Beginners Fault.
Beginners are inclined to be attract
ed by labor-saving devices, some of
handling of the flock, but there is an
other factor to be considered of equal
Importance with the saving of time
That factor is the close association 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 the one who
keeps away from them as much as pos
sible. In large plants this rule would
hardly hold
Tonics and various connections add
to the expense of maintaining many
fiocks when they might very well be
eliminated. Plenty of feed of the right
kind, exercise, and comfortable quar-
tiers make the best health regulators
and are unequaled as stimulants of
egg production 1t has been the ex-
perience of poultry raisers that a sick
hen is best treated by an application of
the Ratchet.
Strange to say, the inexperienced |
person who is tempted to spend money
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 mar
ket poultry serving as his guide as to
what is the proper price to pay 1t is
not good business to pay fancy prices
to obtain birds of teh highest excel
lence for it takes an experienced poul-
tryman to realize on their possibili
ties. A moderate price for birds of a
good laying strain, if egg production
g the principal objective, will prove a
good investment. Later it may pay
% buy some more expensive stock if
he development of the business and
he ability of the owner warrant it.
Fancy birds in the hands of poor
,oultryman will soon deteriorate into
! mediocre flock
Although laborsaving devices may {
lot be essential or desirable for the :
wner of the small flock from the ;
tandpoint of expense and intimate as I
ociation with the flock, a convenient :
ayout OF the plant is always desirable.
he person without experience will do G
yell to start in with a comparatively +
mall flock and build it up gradually. Y
ut later, if he is specializing in poul- r
ry and eggs, flock of such size that r
ill require all his time should be +
ept. 4