ROASTERS 385 



own eggs for hatching. In general the practice is not to produce 

 them at all; or, if any, merely a part. The great difficulty is the 

 necessity of keeping a large flock to produce the eggs in winter, 

 and it would require considerable time and attention successfully 

 to solve this proposition. It is becoming the custom for the 

 broiler grower to make contracts with the larger poultrymen in 

 the vicinity to supply him with eggs at the season desired. He 

 guarantees to take a certain number, and to pay usually from 

 three to five cents a dozen more than the market price for selected 

 eggs in good hatching condition. In order to secure strong vitality 

 and as high fertility as possible, many of the growers agree to 

 furnish the male birds for the flocks, and by purchasing large, 

 vigorous males of other breeding the value of the eggs for their 

 purpose is greatly increased. 



It is poor policy to gather eggs in small lots from the country 

 where no pains have been taken to make them fit for hatching. 



Broiler raising, as an exclusive and distinct poultry industry, 

 is on the decline. Poultrymen are coming to realize the possi- 

 bilities offered by making the production of market eggs the main 

 issue, and are devoting only so much time to the raising of prime 

 broilers in season as may be profitably taken from other work. 

 This change in economic conditions results in greater profit from 

 the broiler produced, in more persons shipping broilers, and in a 

 steadier supply, and in a more stable selling price. 



Fryers. By a frying chicken is meant a young, rapidly grown 

 bird a few weeks older than a large broiler, weighing from two and 

 one-half to three and one-half pounds. There is little demand for 

 birds of this age and weight, and the price paid is so low that it 

 is customary either to dispose of them when at the large broiler 

 size, or, if they are beyond this stage, to hold them for soft roasters 

 at four pounds and above. The term " fryers " is not distinctive, 

 for chicks at all ages are used for frying, especially large broilers. 



Roasters. The growing of prime roasters as an industry is 

 centralized in two well-defined sections in the East, namely, along 

 the south shore of Massachusetts and in south-central New 

 Jersey. In these two sections much time and attention are de- 

 voted to this as an exclusive industry, but often as a side issue in 

 general farming. In Massachusetts the industry is carried on 

 more exclusively, while in New Jersey the great majority of 

 farmers plan to raise and finish from one hundred to five hundred 

 and, in some cases, over one thousand roasters. Roaster grow- 

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