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HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
Raising Poultry in America Making It a Profitable Business
Many eiperlenctd poultry mtt control
that hen-brooded chirks are better, BtrootP
and more Tlforoaa (baa tboae crown la
artificial brooders. Tkb quest loa la cer
tainly open to debate, but it U andenlably
nun iut unn vi ili, wtutr prvm .
dltiona, rear chlrfci of high quality aad J
with a unall percentage of loav t
The follottlnr contrlbutioa U full at J
helpful Information regarding the proper I
management of the mother hen aad their I
broods.
T.Y PROF. FREDERIC H. ETON EB URN.
IT IS an easy matter to raise a few
chicks with hens, but an entirely dif
ferrent proposition to grow a large
number through exclusive use ot the
natural method of brooding, This ex
plains why the artificial method of
brooding is used almost exclusively on
most commercial poultry farms.
The time required to properly attend
to a single brood of 15 chicks Is not
worth considering. But when one has
1500 chicks divided Into 100 little flocks,
scattered about over a considerable area,
each demanding attention several times
daily, the detail work demanded soon
grows tiresome.
It is so much easier to attend to the
same number of chicks In a convenient
brooder house, or to three flocks of 500
each under colony brooders, that few
poultrymen stick to the old method
after they have reached a point where
their flocks of chicks are really large in
size.
Hen-Brooded Chicks Preferred.
This is not an intimation that it is
Impossible to grow many chicks by the
natural method. In certain sections of
the country, notably in New England,
many poultry farmers who maintain very
large flocks of fowls depend upon broody
hens to hatch and rear all the chicks.
But it will be observed that these men
have studied the problem carefully and
have provided the equipment which en
ables them to most conveniently and
efficiently care for the hens and their
broods. Unless some system is applied
to this work, one need not expect to se
cure entirely satisfactory results. The
more important details of management
are presented below. In general, these
apply to almost any poultry plant. Minor
details may be changed to meet the pe
culiar conditions surrounding each par
ticular case.
Proper feeding Is of primary import
ance. This matter was fully discussed
in a recent issue of this publication, and
the points then brought out will not be
repeated here. However, It might be well
to state that the feeding problem is
really simpler when the chicks are moth
ered by hens than when grown in brood
ers. This is not due to any difference in the
chicks, but rather to the conditions sur
rounding them. Each hen Is usually given
but a small number of chicks, and,
as a rule, these small broods are per
mitted to have considerable liberty. In
the brooder, from 50 to 500 chicks are
kept in one flock and in many cases
they are confined in yards of relatively
small size. The hen-brooded chicks may,
therefore, pick up much natural food,
as worms, Insects, fresh green stuff, and
the like, and they further have the ac
tive assistance of the hen in finding these
tidbits. The brooder chicks, on the other
' band, must depend upon the attendant
to supply everything which they need
in the way of foodstuffs.
When feeding chicks with hens, espe
cially where expensive chick feeds are
used, it is advisable to. provide a special
feeding place for the youngsters, so ar
ranged that the mother hen cannot get
at the costly ration. Feed her on any
Ordinary grain mixture which is less ex
pensive. The disposition of the mother hen is
also an Important matter. Some hens
are naturally motherly, kind and atten
tive to their broods, pleasant to manage.
These will usually rear a large percentage
of the chicks intrusted to them.
Others, with equally good intentions,
are clumsy, stepping upon and crushing
many of the chicks, still others are
nervous and flighty or cross and quarrel
some. Such birds may more profitably
be returned to the laying flock and their
thicks given to the dependable kind.
Select Mother Hens With Care.
The observant poultryman can usually
pick out the unsatisfactory individuals
while they are Incubating or very shortly
after they are given chicks. And It pays
to watch this matter carefully.
The construction of the brood coop is
next in importance. It is most short
sighted policy to provide coops which will
meet the requirements of the little fam
ilies only when the most favorable- con
ditions obtain. Far better, design and
build them In such a way that they will
ful'y serve their purpose under the worst
possible conditions. Then they will sure
ly be satisfactory at other times.
Chicks, like adult fowls, require quar
ters which are dry, well-ventilated, light
and sunny, and roomy. Further, they
must be protected against the attacks of
the many enemies that beset them.
Dryness Is merely a matter of careful
construction. A cheap box may be made
weather-proof by merely tacking on a
covering of tar paper or roofing mate
rial. Board floors, especially when slight
ly elevated above the ground level, will
prevent dampness from working up un
derneath. Ample ventilation may be secured In
a variety of ways. A small coop which
is virtually open In front will always be
well ventilated, while free from moving
currents of air.
Slake Brood Coops Roomy.
Possibly the greatest fault of the aver
age brood coop is its small size. A coop
18 Inches square will serve as a sleeping
room for a hen and brood of usual size,
but it Is entirely inadequate during
stormy days when the flock must of
necessity remain under cover. When a
thriving flock is confined In such small
space for two or three days at a time,
as in the case of rainy spells which so
frequently occur during Spring and early
Summer, the results will be noted In
checked growth and general nnthrlfti
ness. Since a well-built coop will give good
service for many years and the saving
of only two or three chicks will pay
for the additional cost of a roomy coop,
it is mighty poor business policy to make
this structure too small for comfort and
efficiency.
Virtually all night-prowling enemies
will be baffled through tho use of a tight
floor and having alt openings In side
walls covered with close-meshed Wire
netting.
A necessary adjunct to the coop Is a
small run or yard which confines the hen
while permitting the chicks to have their
freedom. As a rule it is best to keep
the mother at home until the chicks are
well started in life, strong enough to fol
low her on the long journeys she will
usually take if given her freedom.
. Of course, the hen may be kept con
fined in the coop itself, but she will be
more contented and keep in better con
dition if permitted to exercise In the
open air and scratch and wallow in the
dirt. Further, if permitted to get out
side where she can survey the territory
around her home, she will often save
many chicks by sounding the alarm when
danger threatens.
A very satisfactory yard may be In
expensively constructed, of ordinary laths,
by tacking these on A-shaped frames.
The end next to the coop la left open,
but both sides and the other end are In
closed with laths nailed on some three
Inches apart. In such a run the hen can
see all that is going on, can take the
exercise she requires, and the chicks may
run in and out as they please.
In Europe commonly, and to some ex
tent in America, the exercising yards are
dispensed with and the hena kept at
home by tethering them to the coops, to
weights or to pegs driven into the ground.
A stout string of sufficient length is at
tached to one leg, the other end being
secured as above. The hens very quickly
learn just how far they can travel and
they seldom, If ever, injure themselves
by too vigorous pulling on their tether.
Cleanliness is also necessary. The
coop floor should be cleaned at frequent
Intervals and coop and run moved to
fresh ground every few days. It Is al
ways advisable to keep the floor covered
with fresh, dry earth. This serves the
double purpose of sealing up the drop
pings and making easy the work of
cleaning.
An occasional coat of whitewash, or
spraying with some good disinfectant
are desirable in order to keep the In
terior in sanitary condition and dis
courage the activities of lice and mites.
These little pests will, if not checked,
virtually ruin any brood they attack.
The various kinds of body lice are best
fought with good llce-kllllng powders or
ointments. Hen and chicks should be
carefully examined at intervals and vig
orous treatment given as required.
The blood-sucking mites live in cracks
and crevices in the walls and floor of
the coop. Cleanliness and frequent spray
ing with powerful disinfectants will at
tend to them.
Growing Chirks Require Shade.
The chicks should be given access to
plenty ot shady places under low-growing
trees and bushes, tracts of growing
corn or other similar crops. By early
Summer the scantily clad youngsters
suffer from the rays of the sun, and if
natural shade is not available, cloth
covered frames or heaps of evergreen
brush should be provided. -Piles of brush
covered with pumpkin or squash vines
make ideal shelters and furnish safe re
treats against the attacks of crows or
hawks.
The chick range should not be too
thickly populated. Overcrowding Is a
most common fault and brings on a train
of evils. Allow each brood plenty of
space. You will grow more and better
chicks under such conditions.
Frequently circumstances compel the
chick raiser to grow many chicks on a
limited area. It then becomes his duty
to pay particular attention to the task
of keeping the soil In good condition.
This Is best accomplished by frequent
and thorough cultivation, using either the
Bpade or the wheel hoe to turn the sur
face under and bring fresh earth to the
top. Growing green crop3 are a big help,
too. Patches of grass, clover or rape
may be started under wire-covered
frames, the latter being removed as soon
as the plants have become thoroughly
established.
Watch the water supply. The young-
thls should be clean and cool. Access to
a small stream is ideal, but unfortunate
ly suitable brooks are not commonly
found on poultry plants.
Let the fountains be liberal In size,
wash them daily, set them where the
sun's rays cannot strike them. A small
box, with the open side turned toward
the north, makes an excellent Bhelter.
Get the coop ready before the chickl
hatch, with everything shipshape. After
the hatch Is over and the babies art
thoroughly dried off, move the family
to their new quarters.
Carry the chicks in a box or basket,
the hen under your arm. Place the chicks
In the coop, then introduce the hen. It
the latter is first put in the coop she
will usually be greatly disturbed while
the -chicks are being removed from the
basket and she may crush some of them
in her excitement.
Where several hens bring off broods
at the same time tho chicks may be
"doubled up" if necessary and any sup
pluB hens returned to the laying floc6j.
From 10 to 18 chicks may be given
hen, depending upon her size and the
season of the year. I have had very
good success from placing three hens and
50 chicks together in small housea
Curiously enough, there seems to be less
quarreling under this plan than when
two hens are kept In the same quarters.
Confine the chicks to the coop for
day or so, then give them their liberty.
They will not wander far from home
until they gain strength and experience..
Release the broods early In the mors
ing. It is rank folly to keep them con
fined for many hours after daylight. One
of the most successful poultry growers
I have ever known made It an ironclad
rule to let his chicks out Just at sun
rise. Keep an eye on them during the day.
See that they have plenty of feed and
fresh water. Keep coops and yards clean.
Close the coops up snugly at night. And
watch the little chaps grow!
(Copyright, IMS, by Mutin-Meni Adv. Co.. Inc.)
Modesty.
It must not be supposed that because
the Kaiser quoted Shakespeare "To be
or not to be" in his original manifesto,
His Majesty Is a good Shakespearean.
The contrary may be surmised from an
Incident which occurred at a lunch at
one of the Berlin embassies.
An English diplomat was discussing
some big affair of the mement with a
lady. "As our immortal William has
observed," the diplomat remarked,
"There Is a tide In the affairs of men
that, taken at the flood, leads on to for
tune.' "
The Kaiser looked puzzled.
"That Is quite true," he Ib said to
have acquiesced, "but I don't remember
saying It." London Tit-Bits.
...................... .
WHITE ORPINGTONS.
rv.'iyv-.
The Orpington Is an English general-purpose fowl, first produced In 1886, and generally Introduced Into America a few
years later, after It had been brought to a fair degree of perfection. The white variety is pure white in plumage, with white or
pinkish-white beak and shanks. Males weigh & and 10 pounds; females, 7 and 8 pounds, according to age. The hens are
very satisfactory producers of brown-shelled eggs, and stock of all ages makes excellent table poultry, The breed was orig
inated by the late William Cook, who produced several distinct varieties. Mr. Cook first produced this new fowl some 80 years
ago. The black variety was the first to appear, followed at short Intervals by other varieties, as the new kind grew in popularity.
Home breeders hold that the white variety is a sport from the black. Many white varieties of other breeds have so orig
inated. Others believe that Mr. Cook used entirely different blood, combining that of the Black Hamburg, White Leghorn and
White Dorking. But whatever its ancestry, the subject of this sketch Is a true Orpington In shape and general characteristics.
It Is certainly deserving of the consideration of all classes of poultry-keepers, whether operating a commercial plant, maintain
ing a backyard flock or interested in breeding show stock.
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