Arizona republican., 1922-04-09
VISIONS Of RICHES
WON BY INTENSIVE
POULTRY KEEPING

Probably more people have had
visions of riches by the way OF the
poultry route than by any other
method. not even excepting stock in
oil wells. Many people who have
little or no knowledge OF what con-
stitutes a poultry farm, read of the
wonderful success that has been at
tanned by some one of whom they
have heard or read, and Immediately
the chicken fever" takes and runs
more or less violent course. Untold
failures result from the many who
venture into untried fields. just as
would be the case with anything else
where people without experience try
their hands at something that people
who have spent years to learn, must
rely upon experience to avoid fail
ure and be constantly upon the alert
to prevent making mistakes. or to
guard against failures from negli-
gence or oversight.
This feature of poultry husbandry
which appeals to so many who have
little knowledge of the business and
no experience. has been productive Of
some systems of so-called intensive
poultry culture, some of which have
much merit, some little. and most
of which so far as the Salt river val
ley is concerned are impractical.
An Early System"
One of the first of the systems that
attained national fame due to a great
amount of judicious advertising was
the Philo system. The secrets" of
this system were printed in a book
which sold for 81. The general plan
was small coops or houses in which
the chicks were confined when old
enough to leave the brooders, which,
by the way, were fireless. The chicks
grew up in these houses and contin-
ued their existence as laying hens
There were no yards and the scheme
was to move the houses once or twice
a week, maybe oftener and spade up
/ the spot where the houses had stood.
Sprouted oats furnished green feed
and an elaborate system of feeding
was given There is no sort of doubt
but that this system worked pro-
vided that the enthusiastic amateur
poultry didn't lose his enthusiasm
and forget to follow out some Of the
details that were an essential to sue
cess, The real secret" was in keep
ing the coops sanitary and Ii this
was done by moving them frequently
enough and IL the other minute d.
rections were followed the system
worked, but the work involved was
too much to make poultry keeping
profitable, IL one put any value upon
his time. This system was tried out
by several in the Salt river valley
bur we do not know of any one that
followed it long or of anyone that
has attempted it of late years.
The Corning System
Another system which had many
advocates at one time and one when
was more adopted to commercial
poultry raising was known as the
Corning system. The principal fea-
ture of this was a two story mouse
which gave the hens more room Tor
exercising and did away with the
necessity OF yards. This was a ratn
er expensive type of house to buiId
for the reason that it required hlgner
walls and two floors. The success
Of this system depended upon plenty
of scratch litter and, Of course. clean
liness. SO far as the writer Is aware,
this system has never been tried out
in the Salt river valley and prop :
ably never will be- as the cost of
erecting such a house would be great
er than the climate would require.
The Weeks System
A California man by the name OF
Weeks after studying the various IN
tensive poultry systems Tor mum :
ber OF years, worked out. q pldh tAes
for his section of the country where
he lives seems to be more practical
than the older system mentioned
above and at least in certain districts
of California it works. John NJ. Web
err is using this plan with some slight
notifications on his poultry farm
west of the Indian school, near Phoe-
nix. The Weeks system depends pri-
marily upon continuous supply or
green feed. This is considered to be
the principal secret Like the 9TH
er systems mentioned the fowls are
confined to their houses continuous
ly. The Weeks plan is a long type
of house which he recommends TO
face east. This house is divided into
| sections or units. making each di-
vision or pen about 8x12. There is
an overhang to the roof in front
which protects the troughs for wa
ter and feed.
Green feed is cut and fed in troughs
as a regular part of the daily ration.
The floor of the house is covered with
sand several inches deep, and this is
raked off daily and this sand or
gravel is changed once each year.
There are droppings boards which
are cleaned daily. One or more units
may be used for a brooder house, by
some slight changes, and the instalia-
ton of a hot water heating plant.
This plan has much to recommend It,
particularly as it involves less work