CHAPTER XIII 



CHICKENS 

 By Prof. Wm. C. Sanctuakt, B.Sc.^ 



About the first thing- the writer heard on being ushered into 

 this world was the cackle of a lajdng hen. To many a farmer 

 and farmer's wife it is this same cackling that means mortgage 

 lifting and a profitable business. It is with the object of helping 

 to keep the hens cackling that this chapter is written. The basis 

 for the selection of the subject matter has been the numerous 

 and practical questions asked by farmers and poultrymen. 



The farm flocks. — The farm flocks are producing most of the 

 eggs in America. But the farm flock should always be profit- 

 able. To be profitable it should be either just large enough to 

 utilize the table and other farm w^aste or big enough so that 

 the owner will have an object in feeding and housing it care- 

 fully and so that the eggs and meat may be marketed advan- 

 tageously. One hundred birds makes a good farm flock. 



The breed. — One of the dual purpose breeds will be the easiest 

 to handle and from which to get winter eggs. In many markets, 

 however, the white egg brings a premium, so that with a little 

 more pains some of the Mediterranean breeds Avill prove more 

 profitable. 



For f)i'oduction from the dual purpose breeds one of the fol- 

 lowing may be selected : Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds or 

 White Wyandottes; from the white egg breeds probably the 

 AVliite Leghorn should be chosen. Ninet}^ per cent of America's 

 hens will be found from among these breeds. In purchasing 

 foundation stock, the best plan is to buy from some nearby poul- 

 trjmian whose flocks can be seen and the performance of which 

 can be verified. The next best method is to purchase stock from 

 some breeder whose birds have done consistently well in a good 

 laying contest. One of the poorest methods is to purchase stock 

 based upon fancy poultry show winnings. These mean but little 

 Avhen the egg basket is considered. 



Breeding. — The key to all breeding methods is individual 

 selection and progeny testing. Only the best should be used as 



^Xew York State School of Agriculture, IVforrisville, N. Y. 



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