Our Anconae were wintered in a shack of old boards that cost but a 

 few cents to make ready. The pullets began to lay at a surprisingly early 

 age, at least two months before we expected, and our table was thereafter 

 supplied with fresh eggs that we could safely eat with our eyes shut. The 

 cockerels we ate made us determined to increase our flock as fast as pos- 

 sible, so that our table might more frequently be supplied with chicken. 



Our Ancona hens and pullets laid so many more eggs than the simi- 

 lar flocks of other breeds of our neighbors that we soon realized that we 

 had a valuable asset in our poultry. The basket of eggs that went to the 

 grocery every week practically eliminated our living expenses so far as 

 table fare was concerned. Then it was that we began to plan on what 

 chickens might do for us, and to figure on making poultry-keeping a busi- 

 ness. We had plenty of enthusiasm, and at this stage had acquired the 

 practical experience that made us assured of success. But were we not 

 handicapped for room? 



As stated, our lot was but half an acre in extent, from which must be 

 taken a large lawn and a vegetable garden; consequently our poultry pos- 

 sibilities must be somewhat ciscumscribed in area. We already had a 

 young orchard of sixteen choice trees, and a plentiful supply of currant 

 bushes and grape vines, that were beginning to bear fruit. We decided 

 to tiun the greater part of the garden into hen-parks, and build a goodly 

 sized hen-house about fifty feet long. This was done, and it was the only 

 considerable expense that has ever entered into our poultry business. 



The hen parks we made to include the entire orchard, and thus had 

 nice shade from the first. The hen-house was substantially built; we used 

 cement floors in the scratching sheds; the adjoining roosting and laying 

 rooms had dropping boards, and the roosts were hinged at the back, so it 

 was easy to clean underneath. There was plenty of light — windows faced 

 the south — and the scratching sheds were largely open-front, closed only 

 by a hinged curtain of imbleached muslin. 



Since the first years of our entry into the poultry business, we have 

 used artificial incubating and brooding. We had sufficient capacity so 

 that our large hennery did not have to be idle, but was filled to its limit 

 the first winter. Eggs that winter were forty-five cents per dozen in the 

 local market, and our income from them were several dollars per day. 



We did not depend upon the local stores for a market, but shipped 

 to the city. I had spent several days in the city looking up private trade; 

 I canvassed the best class of people during the season when eggs were 

 scarce and the quality of store eggs very unsatisfactory. Our Anconas 

 were laying while other people's hens were on a vacation, and it made it 

 possible for us to supply fresh eggs when the city customers were anxious 

 to get them. We kept posted on the markets, and our price went up 

 whenever there was a strengthening of market conditions. We alwajrs 

 advanced five cents a dozen at a time and have sold eggs to our city cus- 



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