lo Aug., 1909.] Siicccsyfiil Poultry I- anumg. SS9 



SUCCESSFUL l^OULTRY FARMING. 



//. y. Na7i'ki/iS, PoiiUry Pxpcrt. 



Poultrv raising is at last becominjr a leading branch of farm hus- 

 l)andr\ . The demand is increasing \ear by year; our own markets axe 

 able to consume all the eggs and dressed poultry we produce. The export 

 trade to Great Britain is verv small and can be greatly increased if farmers 

 will raise more poultry of the proper breeds and type and finish them off 

 before they are put on the market. Too many farmers are paying little or 

 no attention to the kinds of poultr\- they have, and they forward them to the 

 market without being fattened. A low price is obtained because tlie birds 

 are thin, and then it is said that pimltrv does not pay. Far too much 

 of this class of poultry is put on the markets every year, and the prices- 

 realized are not profitable, as the demand for this grade is limited. On 

 the other hand, good prices have been paid for properly finished birds. It 

 costs no moje to raise a pound of chicken than a pound of beef or pork, 

 and not nearly as much where the\ ha\'e free range of the fields after the 

 harvest is over. The farmer can raise chickens much more cheaply than 

 any one else if he has the proper equipment for handling them. 



A farmer should endeavour to^ keep at least 100 hens of some good 

 utility breed, such as Black Orpingtons, White Orpingtons, White and 

 Silver Wyandottes. He should pav special attention to selecting the proper 

 type — low set, full breasted liirds. The successful poultry farmer selects 

 one breed, and sets his mind on that breed. By careful handling and breed- 

 ing at the right time of the vea.r (July, August, September), he succeeds in 

 raising large numbers of cockerels which find a ready sale and pullets 

 which will prove decidedly profitable in the autumn and winter when the 

 new laid egg is sO' scarce. Such a farmer I had the pleasure of visiting a 

 few days ago. His propertv is known as the " Yarrowee Egg Farm," 

 and is about a mile from the Upper Fern Tree Gullv railway station. 



The owmer, Mr. G. W. Chalmers, originally carried on dairying, and 

 had about 200 fowls, Avhich he fed exclusivelv on skim milk during the 

 flush of the milking season. His method was, after each milking, to put 

 the skim milk from 25 cows into six barrels, each having a tap at the 

 bottom to draw off the whev. The milk was left in the barxels until all 

 the solids had risen to the top. and all the whev had drained out. In 

 this condition, the solids are of the consi-stencv of crum.bly cheese ; and are 

 very much relished bv the poultrv. In the warm weather, the milk thickens 

 and drains very rapidlv. A close cover is kept over the barrels to keep 

 out the rain, as the milk will not thicken if mixed with water. In cold 

 w'eather it will not thicken unless first soured and warmed. 



With the milk from 25 cows, Mr. Chalmers states he has fed 200 fowls 

 for three months, no other foods being given, at a time when eggs were 

 plentiful, and the health of the birds perfect. During this time, the fowls 

 had a wide range on good pasture. 



Two years ago, Mr. Chalm.ers decided to go in entirely for poultry 

 farming. His success undoubtedlv affirms the oft-repeated question. "Does 

 Poultry Farming Pay? " At the present time, he has 650 Black Minorca 

 hens and 900 chickens all hatched bv incubators, and out within a week. 

 Last year, from 400 fowls, his gross returns were ^250. He has bv careful 

 selection built up a splendid laving strain, surely an evidence that " a 

 breed is Avhat one makes it.'' There is no reason to doubt that the Minorca 

 is capable of holding its own \\\\\\ the Leghorn, and at the same time it 

 produces a much finer egg. 



