THE LEGHORNS 



showing. The average price received for these during 

 the past year was 31 J4 cents per dozen. The sales from 

 the plant the past year reached a total of $4,400 at mar- 

 ket prices. The expenses, including feed, labor, upkeep 

 xif .plant, etc., were a little under $2,500, leaving a net 

 profit of over $1,900 for the season's work. 



As both my associate and myself are engaged in 

 other iines and devote only a small portion of our time 

 to actual work on the plant, it seems to me as if this were 

 doing fairly well. This figure can be increased by increas- 

 ing the stock, which can be done with only the extra cost 

 of feed and no increase in the cost of labor. 



The laying stock are housed on the unit system, each 

 flock containing from 100 to 400 head. These are pro- 

 vided with generous range during the open season, in fact 

 the range is of such size that it is never bare. The breed- 

 ing stock are kept in flocks of 20 females to one male. 



breeding stock be strong, vigorous and well matured. 

 This not only has a material bearing on the hatching of 

 the chicks, but on the raising as well. All know, who 

 have had experience, that it is one thing to hatch a chick, 

 but quite another to raise it. The average hatch at our 

 plant is about 65 per cent of the eggs incubated and we 

 rear an average of 85 per cent of the chicks hatched. 

 This I consider very good and I think it bespeaks well 

 for our general conditions. 



When the chicks are first hatched they are placed 

 under the hovers of a continuous hot water brooding 

 system, and are kept here until about four weeks of age, 

 when they are transferred to colony houses, which are 

 equipped with adaptable hovers. Here they are allowed 

 to range when weather conditions will permit, and this 

 system gives the best results of any tried thus far. The 

 chick is given plenty of heat during the critical period 

 and receives careful attention from the attendant. After 



In the group of illustrations above is given several views of the Sands & Beilman poultry farm, Hawley, Pa. In the 

 lower picture a general view of the main buildings is to be had, on the right is the brooder house and Incubator cellar, while 

 on the left is shown one of the laying houses. This house is 110x15 feet, contains five pens in which a total of 405 birds 

 were kept during the last year. The average egg production was 148 eggs per capita from the birds confined in this house. 



These are changed frequently, thus insuring high fertility. 

 The dry mash system of feeding is followed and a 

 mash composed of equal parts bran, corn meal, middlings 

 and crushed oats with 10 per cent to 15 per cent of beef 

 scraps added is used, and is kept before the birds at all 

 times. During the winter about one-fifth alfalfa is added 

 to the above. A feeding of grain is given in the morning 

 and afternoon. This is usually composed of 35 per cent 

 wheat, 30 per cent corn, 10 per cent barley, 5 per cent 

 buckwheat and 20 per cent oats. This is varied some ac- 

 cording to season and prices. These rations have given 

 us the best results and I think them the best suited for 

 our conditions and locality. In addition to these plenti- 

 ful supply of shells, grit and charcoal is always provided, 

 with a constant supply of fresh water. Many claim that 

 liberal feeding of yellow corn produces a creamy cast to 

 the plumage. I have used both kinds and from my ex- 

 perience would say that I can see no ill effects from 

 its use. ^. 



Hatching and Rearing 



Both the small incubators', and a Candee Mammoth 

 Incubator are used for hatching purposes, a large capacity 

 being required, owing to the rapidly growing demand 

 for baby chicks, this branch of the industry having added 

 materially to our profits during the past season. 



To get good strong chicks it is necessary that the 



removal to the colony houses, the close attention is not 

 required as the chick, if it be a good o.ne, is then well 

 on its way as a later profit producer. 



As soon as the cockerels begin to become trouble- 

 some, they are removed to runs by themselves and are 

 marketed as broilers when the weight of three pounds 

 per pair is reached. 



Practically Free Range is Given All Stock 



The range is cultivated and seeded to oats, clovers 

 and grass seeds in the early spring. The clover and 

 grass get a nice start and make fine pasture for the birds 

 during the fall until the ground is frozen up. About 

 one acre of range is allowed to every one hundred birds. 

 This may be alteinated so while one is growing a new 

 crop of green food, the other may be used. With this 

 system the range is kept sweet and the evil of contamina- 

 tion that is ever present in the small yards is entirely 

 disposed of. 



In conclusion, I wish to say that I think anyone 

 possessing a liking for the poultry business can duplicate 

 our success, providing they go slow and only increase the 

 business as the earnings from the plant warrant. That 

 is, do not invest every cent of profit received, but keep 

 a small balance for a working capital. It is those who 

 rush blindly into business that make failure of it. outline 



