SUCCESSFUL POULTRY KEEPING 



A. 17. I have bred over 40 varieties of poultry, and 

 after four years of close attention and study, began to cull out, 

 keeping only what I found to be in the greatest demand, the 

 best all round combination birds. Of all the best, my choice 

 would be the Barred Rocks and White Wyandottes. 



A. 18. They are in the greatest demand and combine, 

 nearer than any other varieties, all the good quaUties; being the 

 best of table fowls as well as egg producers, and a great farmer's 

 and fancier's fowl. 



A. 19. White Wyandottes. 



A. 20. They mature quicker and make a large early 

 bird, and are easily dressed for market. They have a very 

 choice quality of flesh as well as the best appearance. 



A. 21. Barred Rocks and White Wyandottes. 



A. 22. The Barred Rocks as a fancier's fowl, bring the 

 best prices and are in the greatest dem'and. White Wyandottes 

 are also a great fancier's fowl, as well as the best of market 

 fowls. 



DISPOSE OF ALL MONGRELS 



BOTH TIME AND MONEY ARE LOST TRYING 

 TO IMPROVE MONGRELS— GET PURE-BREDS 



CHARLES E. VASS, Washington, N. J. 



BREEDER OF SINGLE AND ROSE COMB BUFF ORPINGTONS. AND 

 SINGLE COMB WHITE AND BLACK ORPINGTONS 



A. 9. I would buy choice fowls, if only a pair. 



A. 10. In buying eggs the different chmates of times 

 prove a detriment to a satisfactory hatch, which is very dis- 

 couraging to both buyer and seller. If stock is purchased one 

 is not buying something he has not seen, and as a rule promi- 

 nent poultrymen assure the buyer satisfaction. 



A. 11. Farmers lose both time and money in trying to 

 improve a flock of mongrels. Better dispose of all mongrels and 

 purchase a pen of pure-breds. Any of the heavy varieties, 

 especially the Orpington, make excellent market fowls. Farmers 

 should remember that clean legged fowls are the most eagerly 

 sought after. 



A. 12. Fancy and utility are profitable if one is competent 

 to select the prize birds at the proper age. I would suggest 

 that all birds not intended for breeders, especially males be 

 marketed when six to eight weeks old in order to secure the 

 highest market prices for broilers and to give more room for the 

 growing prize birds. 



A. 13. First and most important of all is a proper loca- 

 tion; one should be selected with a slight slope to the south and 

 gravel soil if possible. The second consideration should be the 

 buildings; there has been a great deal of stress laid on buildings. 

 One that suits the writer best is a building not over 30 feet in 

 length divided into three pens each, and as many of this kind as 

 necessary. Third, look up a breeder of sound reputation who 

 has a good show record and is a speciaUst, and purchase your 

 choice of the 70 or 80 varieties. 



A. 14. One with limited means should go very slow. 

 Better start with a pair of first class specimens and study your 

 birds from year to year, than to invest too heavily and fail with 

 an utter disgust for the poultry business. 



A. 17. Single or Rose Comb Buff, White or Black Or- 

 pingtons. 



A. 18. The Orpingtons being a new variety, combining 

 quaUties for both the fancy and utility side of the business, are 

 eagerly sought after. They are grand layers and a desirable 

 table fowl as well as being among the foremost at our leading 

 exhibitions. 



A. 19. Buff Orpingtons. 



A. 20. Always ready for market from six weeks on 

 being plump and juicy. - 



BEGIN WITH YEARLING HENS 



MORE ECONOMICAL— QUALITY KNOWN 

 FROM FIRST — EGGS FOR HATCHING 

 AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY — PRACTI- 

 CAL ADVICE FOR THE FARMER 



ALBERT F. DIKEMAN, South Peabody, Mass. 



SPECIALTY BREEDER OF WHITE WYANDOTTES AND 

 WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS 



A. 9. Fowls, consisting of yearling hens and a good 

 cockerel. 



A. 10. Fowls are more economical, — the quahty can be 

 determined as soon as bought. Eggs bought for hatching are 

 an unknown quantity. The best might be paid for, while the 

 quality of them would depend entirely on the integrity of the 

 breeder from whom they were purchased. I would prefer to 

 put my money into a few fine specimens rather than to see 

 how many the same money would buy. In buying eggs I would 

 be obhged to lose a whole season before seeing any results and, 

 even then, might have to start aU over again. 



A. 11. Select the best hens, on the farm, that nearest 

 conform to the size and color of flesh and leg that his market 

 demands. From these select those most viniform in color. Buy 

 enough good, pure-bred cockerels of any one variety that are 

 nearest in shape and color to the hens. From the progeny 

 mate the cocks (cockerels bought previous season) to the puUets 

 that nearest approach the females of the cock's variety in shape 

 and color. Mate the best cockerels back to the hens. This 

 makes the second seasons' chicks } of the blood bought, and 

 gives the quickest and best start possible without first buying 

 all pure blood. 



A. 12. Buy as many good birds as his means will permit. 

 Select the breed or variety, within the range of his market 

 requirements, that appeals to him most. The second season 

 mate the best cocks back to their best pullets and the cockerels 

 back to their dams. When in need of new blood go to the 

 breeder from whom the first purchase was made. Don't try to 

 improve your stock by buying males from a different strain, as 

 .the usual result is a lot of culls caused by too violent crossing 

 of alien strains. 



A, 13. Attend all the representative shows that you can 

 during the season previous to your starting in the busi-. 

 «ess. Select the breed or variety that you Uke best. Question 

 breeders and judges closely; make notes of their answers. Be 

 governed by the preponderance of this cumulative evidence. 

 Select a breeder in whom you can place confidence and allow 

 him to select the stock and mate it for you. Buy the best he 

 has if he will sell it. Buy a "Standard" before you buy your 

 stock. Make yourself famihar with, at least, that part of it 

 that describes the particular kind that you are to purchase. 

 Stick to the breeder from whom you fii-st bought and if you 

 want to make a change clean out all of his strain and try a new 

 one. It is only by breeding birds in line that the best results 

 are obtained in raising exhibition poultry. 



A. 14. Buy a trio of the best your means will permit, 

 then proceed as in answer to question No. 13. 



A. 15. Buy the best to be obtained of the breed or 

 variety that, within your market requirements, best suits you, 

 weight, Color of feathers, skin and legs, being given due con- 

 sideration. Mate and breed as in answer to question No. 13. 

 Always select the most vigorous, up to weight specimens, with 



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