TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 621 



While much might be said in regard to the necessary requisite of an 

 up-to-date chidden house and many practical ideas might be given as to 

 judicious feeding — time will not permit me to go into detail, but allow me 

 to say that feeding chickens in winter is more puzzling than any other 

 duty from the fact that more judgment is required to know the quantity 

 of food to be given, the variety, etc. A safe rule to be followed has been 

 suggested by one poultryman and that is — half as much as they will eat 

 in the morning, nothing at noon and a full feed at night. 



While turkeys are more difficult to raise they are nevertheless ex- 

 ceedingly profitable and it is worth our time to at least make an effort to 

 raise a few — even though we make a complete failure some years as has 

 been my experience the past year. I can give you no information concern- 

 ing ducks and geese, but many who have raised them inform us that they 

 are the easiest of all poultry to raise and manage, and are more profitable 

 as the feathers command a good price which is an extra profit. 



POULTRY FOR PROFIT. 



By Mrs. Laura McKee. 



(Read before the Poweshiek County Farmers Institute.) 



For the beginner, I would say, read all the poultry journals and good 

 books, or recognized authority, visit all your friends and neighbors, who 

 have thoroughbred poultry, talk chicken until you think you know every- 

 thing there is to know about chickens, and when you have settled the all- 

 important question, that is, the kind which suits you and your locality 

 best, you will find, when you get really in the business that up to the 

 time your actual experience begins around the poultry houses that you 

 have got but a little way into the real animus of a business that is 

 growing in importance dailj', and that has been studied for years by 

 persons who are now ready to say that there is still much to learn. 



But this advice I can give with considerable certainty: Begin with a 

 small flock of the best you can procure, and when you are once in the 

 business you will find it greatly to your advantage to study your birds 

 — make friends of them — there is nothing more calculated to broaden 

 your knowledge than an intimate acquaintance with your fowls. Study 

 incubators, brooders, designs for houses and apparatus carefully, and 

 above all, do not forget the feed problem. After you begin to like your 

 pets, and like to take care of them, you have mastered the first lesson 

 that spells success. 



Gradually increase your flock each year, and construct buildings and 

 improvements in accordance with the returns of the previous year's ef- 

 fort, and in three or four years you will have a flock of chickens that 

 will yield you more profit on the investment than any other stock on the-. 

 farm. 



Not one farm poultry raiser in a hundred is a fancier, but what he or- 

 she wants is good, meaty stock and good layers. Meaty, good-looking,. 



