Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-05-24
AGRICULTURE

The chief aim of most poultry keep
ers is selection Of fowls for the great
est egg production. First he consid-
ers the breed of poultry and then the
period during which it is profitable to
keep the individual hens. The male
has no influence on the number of
eggs and as far as egg. production is
concerned he is superfluous, in fact
infert lie eggs keep better than fertile
ones. The hen cannot be expected to
produce many eggs until maturity,
but during her first and second laying
seasons she reaches her period of
greatest productivity. Unless unusu-
ally good she should be killed or sold
after the second season. An early
egg production is obtained by secur-
ing an early Matching, feeding the
chicks properly and managing them
up through the pullet stage.
As regards the different breeds
they comprise: Sussex, Cornish,
Dorking, Orp.ngton and Red, from,
England. Brahma, Cochin and Lang
shan-Asiatic. Plymouth Rock, DOM
Unique, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte
and Buckeye, all known as American
breeds. Blue Andalusian, Leghorn,
Ancona, Spanish, are Mediterranean
breeds, sometimes called egg breeds
It has been generally proved that
when one breed is kept and proper
attention given to it that much better
results will be had than if a mongrel
group is kept. Starting from the first
eggs for Matching must not be sub
jected to high or low temperatures, a.
bout fifty-one or two degrees F. is
good. Twelve or fourteen days il
the limit Matching eggs should be
kept. From the first OF February un-
til towards the last Of April have beef
proved to be the best Matching time
After the sitting hen has been allow.
ed to demonstrate she really is
broody, she may be set, putting un.
der her no more eggs than she car
cover well. Nests about fifteen inch
es or little less, twenty-eight inches
apart, and filled with hay or straw
are good. The width and length
should be about the same, and tn,
depth not enough to allow the eggs
to pile in the center. The hens SHOULD
be kept. free from lice. Give large
kernel grain to them and little or n,
soft feed, as it is liable to cause diar
rhea. Water and grit are essential
Dust baths are beneficial. After eggs
have been under hens for six or eigh.
days they may be tested and infer
tile ones removed. It sometimes hap
pens only enough eggs may be lief,
from three hens to reset two, then
the other hen may be set again. Il
an incubator is used the heat SHOULD
be applied before the eggs are put in
Place all eggs in ire first time, anG
w uVC 1O0 l1tCAs O1A Vic IAllAu ICY
and until the eighteenth turn the eggs
twice each day. If in summer tn,
eggs should be sprinkled with warn.
water the eighteenth day.
The houses and coops, howevei
built, should follow the plan of clean
liness, room, and ventilation. The 10
cation should be dry, face south, ant
a place provided for the laying hens
to be undisturbed.
Things for the poultry keeper tt
have in mind are: American breeds
give best results on the farm; chicks
should not be fed for the first thirty
SIX to forty hours; pullets Matched
early begin to lay in the fall whel
eggs are high; gather the eggs twice
a day; keep them dry and cool; mar
ket them every few days; get rid OF
males as soon as Matching is finished;
and pure-breds mean a product that
does not vary, thereby commanding
best prices.