The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-01-31
POULTRY PRODUCTION
IN BINGHAM COUNTY

There has been q large increase In
the size and number of poultry flocks
in Bingham county in the past few
years until at the present time there
are about $4,000 hens In fiocks OF
100 hens or more. AS soon as the
Southern Idaho Poultry Marketing
association, which Is now being
formed, is completed it Is anticipated
that the number of 100 hen fiocks
will double, in a very short time,
since there are many thousands of
hens in fiocks ranging from thirty
to 100 that were not included In the
above figures, 1
| In the past, farmers have been
content to hatch out a few late
chicks under the old brown hen and
permit them to just grow up. II these
few chicks escaped cats, dogs or
other fowl loving animals, they were
permitted to roOst about the barn or
machine shed, and If perchance when
the warm rays Of spring filled them
with the necessary pep they should
deposit few eggs in some secluded
spot, all was we'll and good. Lusty
chanttcleer or perhaps q flock of
them, then considered a necessary
part OF the game, enjoyed the same
privileges as the pullets and hens
and no one took the fowls much to
heart. On holidays and Sundays
the old red hen was guillitined and
served, submerged in appetizing
gravy and dressing, to a feasting
family, with no question asked as to
whether she layed or lied
Hens often died of one cause or
another and they were thrown to
the pigs, or parked on top Of the
shed until some carton bird carried
them on, or they just naturally
mortified.
There were a few men, however,
who were poultry farmers, that i'm
ported purebred fowls from other
parts and went into the game little
deeper, spending considerable time
in determining how to make the hens
lay eggs, not only in the spring and
summer, but in winter as we'll. Some
men even had the foresight to build
special houses for the hens Nests
we're constructed so that the old red
hen could not hide her eggs and
they could be gathered every day 1t
was known that chickens liked to
roost up high so stair stepped roosts
were provided.
The present day system and ap-
piled science engendered into the |
poultry business have made it a !
highly specialized industry, produc-
ing as much wealth for Idaho as
wheat or any other single commodity
produced in the state. Southern
Idaho alone shipped 17S cars of eggs
in the first ten months of 1928, be-
sides those consumed at home The
size OF the flocks have increased un-
til f1ocks of 500 hens are numerous.
Modern. half monitor poultry houses,
supplied with artificial light, have
taken the place of machine sheds or
barns, and balanced rations of home
grown feeds are kept before the hens
1T all times. Chandelier Is con-
'picuous by his absence, and clean,
resi-, non-fertile eggs are gathered
hree or four times per day. Chicks
rom trap nested, high producing I
locks are bought as day old chicks
md given special attention under
artificial conditions until they are
placed in the laying house in the fell
'eady to lay, at five and six months,
When prices are the best.
Poultry farming goes hand in
land with dairying since the by pro-
luct of the dairy is SO valuable for
poultry. The climate in Bingham