MANAGEMENT OF FOWLS 



the broiler craze started. The growing of winter chickens had 

 been carried on to some extent in southern New England in 

 the same way as in the vicinity of Philadelphia, but the local 

 supply was small and irregular until artificial methods were 

 adopted. Then, quite suddenly, the industry developed exten- 

 sively. in the vicinity of Norwell, Hanover, and Rockland. Its 

 growth was remarkable, both because of the number of people 

 who were successful on a comparatively large scale, and because 

 it attracted almost no attention outside of this district until long 

 after it had become a well- 

 established local industry. 



The methods of the 

 roaster growers in this dis- 

 trict are very intensive, but 

 as originally developed their 

 business was not a continu- 

 ous line of intensive poultry 

 culture, nor is it continuous 

 now except in some cases. 

 For many years after the 

 business began, the growers bought the eggs that they incubated 

 from farmers whose flocks were kept under good conditions and 

 were strong and vigorous ; but as the numbers engaged in grow- 

 ing winter chickens increased, the supply of eggs from the farms 

 was not sufficient, and some of the roaster growers began to keep 

 hens to supply a part of the eggs they used. Later some pro- 

 duced all the eggs for hatching that they needed for their own 

 use, and a few sold to others also. This, however, can be done 

 only by those having quite large farms. Some of the most 

 successful growers have only a few acres of land and do not 

 attempt to keep breeding fowls. 



Hatching begins in August or September and is continued 

 until all the chickens that can be handled are hatched. If the 

 eggs hatch well from the start, a large grower may have his 



FIG. 112. Incubator cellar 



