HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
Raising Poultry in America Making It a Profitable Business
Ttia Imtrbu tuiiUpv trulnrtrv Tint lnB
lore nprld m tide line of the gen
ml farm, tit rapidly becoming highly ape
dallied. One of the mora recent devel
opments U the hatching and selling of
baby thick. These are new shipped la
vt number each eason, and the trade
in them U growing at an astonishing rate.
Dealer in chick haT frequently been
accused of cruelty by those who merely
look open the surface and are not Inti
mately acquainted with the true fact,
l'rofeasor Btoneburn take advantage of
the opportunity to present fairly and fully
the other aide of the case.
SY TROP. FREDERICK H. STOXEBURN.
HERE is nothing new under the
sun, is a saying which has been
quoted so often that it has become
decidedly the worse for wear. Of course,
it is not taken literally in these modern
days, but it must be admitted that a very
large number of ideas which to us seem
to be new and original prove upon in
vestigation to be hoary with age.
This is as true in the poultry field as
elsewhere. Of late we have been assum
ing much credit for the development of
the open-front or fresh-air type of poultry
house, and the general adoption of more
sanitary methods In caring for our flocks.
But a gentleman living in China writes
In an American poultry publication that
for a long period of time the poultrymen
of China have believed in and generally
used both of these new (?) ideas. That
Ihey have sheltered their birds under
thatch roofs attached to protected sides
of their buildings, the poultry shelters be
ing open on two or three sides. Further,
that these structures are kept very clean,
it being a common practice to remove
and renew the straw-mat floors at fre
quent intervals.
Custom Hatching Plants.
During recent years many American
poultrymen have taken up the work of
custom hatching, operating Incubators
having large egg capacity and selling
space In the machines to any one who
wishes to avoid the detail work of run
ning incubators or attending to sitting
hens, or who prefer to pay a reasonable
charge In order to secure the benefit of
expert service.
Again, we are a trifle behind the times.
In both China and Egypt artificial Incu
bation has been successfully practiced for
many centuries, and central hatcheries
have long been in vogue. Those of Egypt
were commented upon by Sir John Maun
devllle in a volume containing an account
of his travels, issued about the year 1350.
They were referred to again by Reaumur
some four centuries later, and frequently
by modern travelers and investigators.
The Egyptian incubators are huge brick
ovens, really buildings, constructed of
brick and earth. The attendant does his
work while actually within the Incubator.
It might be added that some progress has
been made In America with huge hatching
rooms of somewhat similar character.
The Chinese Incubators are different
in type, being merely large earthen jars,
covered with wicker work and provided
with an opening In the side, through
which the charcoal fire may be attended
to. Another iar, slightly smaller in size,
is placed Inside. The baskets containing
the eggs are set In the Inner jar.
A most Interesting account of the oper
ation of the Chinese hatching establish
ments appears in Professor F. H. King's
wonderful volume dealing with the agri
culture of China. Some of the more Im
portant points brought out by this dis
tinguished author are discussed below.
One hatchery visited Is equipped with
SO incubators, each capable of holding
1200 eggs, or a total capacity of 36,000
eggs at one time. In size this compares
favorably with many of the prominent
American establishments. The machines
are operated in the dwelling, the front,
room of which serves as a shop where
eggs are purchased and chicks sold.
The work is not confined to the hatch
ing of hens' eggs alone. Ducklings and
goslings are also produced In large num
bers. The eggs are not permitted to re
main In the incubators for the entire
period of incubation. At a certain Btage
they are removed In padded trays, which
are kept In a suitably warmed situation
until the hatch is completed.
No breeding stock Is kept by the own
ers of the hatchery, all eggs being pur
chased, the price paid being about 50
cents per 300. The chicks are sold at
about fl.30 per 100.
The Baby Chick Trade.
Here we encounter another Industry
which has only recently taken root in
America the selling of baby chicks. Very
few people, save those in intimate touch
with the poultry Industry of our Nation,
realize how extensive the trade in baby
chicks Is at present, and how rapidly It is
growing. But our sellers of chicks have
something to learn from those In China.
The latter have learned the trick of dis
tinguishing the sex of the newly hatched
chicks, and they sort them accordingly.
Each purchaser may designate just how
many pullets and how many cockereU
should be included in each order. Pro
ducers of eggs naturally select the for
mer, while those who desire to grow table
poultry prefer the latter. Some time we
may expect to have our progressive deal
ers announce that they are now In posi
tion to ship either male or female chicks,
as requested, and such will certainly be
in position to corner the market.
When the pioneer American baby chick
dealer first offered to ship uewly hatched
youngsters by express to distant points,
he was subjected to an unlimited amount
of public ridicule and more or less abuse;
the former from those who just knew
the plan could not be worked success
fully, the latter from the misinformed
individuals who thought the babies would
be cruelly treated.
Chicks Safely Shipped.
But the experience of many thousands
of purchasers has conclusively shown that
chicks may safely be shipped by express
to distant points, and the general ac
ceptance of this fact is Indicated by the
establishment of large hatching plants In
all sections of the country and the steady
expansion of the business done by them.
Many are now hatching and selling niore
than 250,000 chicks each season, while
those with an output of 100,000 or more
are so common that they excite but little
comment.
Unfortunately, the cruelty idea still per
sists in certain quarters. As late as two
years ago there was some talk at the an
nual meeting of the American Poultry
Association of Introducing a resolution
condemning the shipping of baby chicks,
on the ground that the practice Is re
sponsible for much unnecessary suffer
ing. However, sane counsels prevailed
and the resolution was never brought up.
Consider the facts. When newly
hatched, baby chicks do not require food
or water. Few professional poultrymen
supply either for at least 48 or frequently
72 hours. A sufficient degree of heat Is
demanded, however. The successful op
eration of many forms of tireless brood
ers is sufficient proof that a brood of
chicks will generate all the heat required,
provided they are kept In a suitable box:
Therefore, it Is plain that properly
packed chicks will be comfortable and
contented for at least two days, and few,
If any, shipments are en route for a long
er time. It must be admitted that the
shipments may suffer from improper
packing and handling, but the commer
cial factor acts here to oorrect such trou
bles. The sellers of chicks must deliver
the goods In first-class condition, other
wise their trade will suffer. This com
pels them to use suitable cases and exer
cise care In packing. The transportation
companies are always looking for busi
ness. If they fail to give careful service,
their income suffers through the curtail
ment of shipments. Therefore, they are
actuated by mere self-interest, if by no
nobler sentiment, to handle chick ship
ments with utmost care. In fact, the ex
press companies have Issued instructions
to their employes to pay particular at
tention to all livestock while en route, and
these seem to be very generally obeyed.
There Is further proof that the practice
is neither cruel nor Inhuman. One large
shipper recently stated to me that the
backbone of his business Is repeat orders
from his customers. Certainly, few poul
trymen would continue to patronize the
same man year after year If the chicks
did not give satisfaction. And, obviously,
if the little fellows suffered severely dur
ing shipment, they would not be satisfac
tory, because such a large proportion of
them would die during the brooding
period. A baby chick cannot stand much
"grief" and make good later.
Few Chicks Lost iu Transit.
The low percentage of dead chicks re
ceived by purchasers also Indicates care
ful handling. The man referred to above
guarantees that each customer shall re
ceive as many live chicks as he pays for,
replacing the dead ones without charge,
and this is the usual custom. The loss
from this source does not exceed 2 per
cent during the entire season, and one
could easily believe that a Biinllar loss
would be had In large numbers of chicks
transferred directly from the Incubator to
the brooder.
Of late I have received many letters
from poultry keepers, Inquiring about the
quality of the stock one may expect to
receive from dealers In baby chicks. Such
inquiries cannot be fairly answered In a
single word, "good" or "poor," It de
pends upon he source from which the
chicks are secured. The same Is true of
breeding stock and eggs for hatching. As
a rule, one gets about what he pays for
when he deals with reliable concerns.
Strong Breeding Stock Required.
But in the baby chick business the ele
ment of self-interest compels the produc
er to pay particular attention to the qual
ity of the breeding stock from which he
secures the eggs for hatching. Fresh eggs
have a definite market value, and the
cost of a given number of chicks Is deter
mined by the cost of the eggs required
to produce them, plus the labor charge.
At current prices of chicks, good hatches
muBt be the rule, or no profit can be ob
tained from the sale of chicks.
In view of the above, the dealer Is
greatly Interested In having flocks of
breeding birds which are healthy, strong
and vigorous, as eggs from such sources
give largest hatches of strong chicks.
There Is another point. The profes
sional incubator operator equips his es
tablishment with the best incubators and
learns, through extended experience, how
best to operate them. He must do this In
order to insure a reasonable income; and
this means that his chicks are well
hatched.
One might cite individual cases where
purchased baby chicks have been most
unsatisfactory in quality; where ship
ments have arrived in deplorable condi
tion. But these are not sufficient war
rant for the wholesale condemnation of
a business which, on the whole, is con
ducted squarely and cleanly. The baby
chick Industry is here to stay, but it
could not last long If the adverse state
ments made about It were true In any
great degree. -
The poultryman who needs few or
many chicks on definite dates, who wishes
to "count his' chicks before they are
hatched," will find It most convenient to
purchase them "ready made." Speaking
personally, if I were in need of 50,000 ad
ditional chicks this month, I would not
hesitate to place my order for them with
any one of a large number of concerns
whose stock, methods and business Integ
rity are well known to me.
(Copyright, 1915, by Matos-Menx Adv. Co.,
Inc.)
Her Cup of Coffee Runs Away.
NEW YORK A woman entered one
of New York's automatic lunch rooms
appearing much preoccupied. After chang
ing a dime for two nickels she put one
of them in the slot marked "sandwiches"
and the other In the hot coffee slot.
She turned the crank, as per direc
tions, and then gave a series of panic
stricken staccato shrieks of "Oh, oh, oh!
look!" The other auto-eaters turned
In time to see that Bhe had forgotten to
put a cup under the faucet, nance the
dismay. All of the brownish liquid had
filtered down into the drain.
Celluloid from Skimmed Milk.
Thrifty housewives have devoted much
time and thought to the economy of
skimmed milk. Some of them have fed
it to their families, some to the chickens
and pigs, but none of them has willingly
thrown It away.
Now that the war has Interfered with
the Importation of chemicals used in the
making of celluloid, there comes a crafty
inventor and asks everybody to save all
the skimmed milk. He used the skim
med milk to make films for the movies,
coat buttons, collar buttons, piano keys
and French ivory toilet articles.
The successful sktmmed-milk film has
already been exhibited In Chicago.
BUFF PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
,SJJI" "Wins KUU MV.C1 INC
New breeds and varieties of poultry come and go. Each hm It nrdmt champions, each Is boomed more or lens, accord
ing to the resources and ability of the fanciers behind It. But through all the changes the grand old Plymouth Rock stands
steadfast, the tried and true favorite of a countless number of poultrymen who find it to bo one of the. grandest general
purpose fowls on earth. '
The Plymouth Kock was one of the first produced of the d'stlnotlvcly American breeds, the bSirred variety being the
parent kind. Hardy and vigorous, excellent layers of large, brown-shelled eggs, deslrablo table stock at all ages, this breed
immediately appealed to our poultrymen, and It was soon widely distributed. During more recent years It has been forced
to compete with the newer American breeds and a number of foreign kinds, but It still holds Its place as one of the most
profitable breeds. . .
Of the six varieties of Plymouth Rocks, the buff was the third to appear. By 1894 it had reached a sufficiently advanced
stage of development to warrant the American Poultry Association In giving it official recognition and a place in the Amer
ican standard of perfection. Since that time vast improvement has been made and It Is not now difficult to find large flocks
of this variety which are remarkably true to type and marvelously beautiful In color.
The Buff Plymouth Rock Is a made variety of the breed, I. e., It carries the blood of several other breeds, through the
use of which the plumage color was perfected. Males and females alike are a rich, even buff in all sections. The hens are
dependable layers of brown-shelled eggs and make excellent sitters and mothers. Buff Rocks are hardy at all ages and are
good table stock from broiler age to maturity. The standard Plymouth llock weights apply to this variety. Males, 8 and
9!4 pounds; females, 6 and pounds, according to age. .