The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-28

The Necessary Hen

Nearly every one that I have dis
cussed poultry with the last year
seemed TO think it a hard year for
poultry. | do not know why SO many
mink SO. | did better Last year than
IN any of the 10 years ! have been IN
the business although / have always
had extra success.
Last year we did not get very much
/ wet or dry weather and had a long
/ pleasant fall so the late chickens had
| nearly as good a chance to grow as
the early ones. Although | know
| there is lots more profit in the early
ones there is also profit in the later
ones.
Sent my last box about the middle
OF January OF late Matched chicks but
| they dressed little over six pounds
apiece and brought 40c in Boston.
Why is it that some farmers will
raise potatoes year after year whether
they get any profit or not but if they
keep hens and they don't happen to
lay as many eggs as they think they
ought TO or grain goes up in price
they never wait to see if conditions
will change but sell them at once at
any price to get rid of them?
Many people have asked me the
question, Can l succeed with popl-
try?' | believe any one can be sue
cessful with poultry if they like It,
but if they do not they'd better let 1t
alone.
The better poultry houses one has
the less work it is to care for the
hens. But no matter what style Of
house, if it gets Sun and fresh air
days and is cleaned out as often as
the litter gets damp one will have
very little trouble.
had 300 laying hens last year and
only lost one through sickness.
The breed is not so important rs 1t
is to get them from a laying strain.
Hens from the same breed aren't the
same, some will lay and some simply
will not. Preference should be given
at all times to we'll bred stock, be-
cause there is an added return in the
sale of eggs or fouls for breeding pur-
poses.
The American breeds are the best
for most farms as conditions there
demand a foul that is good layer
and at the same time produces an
abundance of good meat A good
sized hen will stand the cold better
than a small one. A large foul will
bring more than a small one per
pound and brown eggs more than
white ones.
| prefer the barred and white Ply
mouth Rocks. Suppose It is because
they have done so well for me al
though | have always had a prefer
ence for them.
Have 300 nice pullets after selling
so. One of the white ones weighs 9%
pounds. If you think / made mis-
take in weighing her come out to
Worthmoor Farm and weigh hcr for
yourself.
Poultry has brought good price in
Boston. OF course one needs to fol-
low the markets closely to know
when to- ship anything. " received
no less than 35c and for my early
ones SIC per pound dressed weight
Never sold any alive but once and
that was certainly enough.
It's not as hard to dress them as
some might think. We always dress
them clean, intend to get every pin
feather as they bring a better price
that way. My husband and | dressed
$50 last fall alone. OF course that
wasn't all the work we did for we live
on 200 acre farm, had 10 acres of
oats to take care of, keep % head of
cattle. | make the butter, also do
the homework for five in the family.
So you see il doesn't take all ones
time to take care of 1000 hens and
chickens.
Now TO new beginners | say try a
few the first year then il successful
more the next and so ON until you
get the number you desire
| plan on having something to sell
every week in the year Early pull
lets begin to lay by the middle of
August so have eggs to ship every
week besides my late chickens.
Some think it hard to fat them for
market. | don't find it so. You can
keep them penned up as long as you
like and they will do well If you never
over feed and give them d variety.
Let the children have a flock for
themselves to get that new suit they
want and also that sled or q set of
skis and see what good cake they
will take of them and how they will
watch them grow.
A few more words, | would like to
say, then | have finished.
If grains get high in price don't
feed less but feed more and take even
better care of them than ever and
don't sell until they will dress at least
AZ pounds and get the pullets to lay
ing early.
MRS. MABEL JOHNSON
Skowhegan, Maine