1084 
THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
November 4, 
The Henyard. 
Judging Utility Poultry. 
What standard do judges adopt in com¬ 
paring poultry for utility? Prizes are be¬ 
ing offered for the best market or laying 
stock. I have Wyandottes which are not 
up to the “standard” but which excel as 
profitable birds. In a “utility” contest 
how would these hens be scored ? J. G. s. 
I do not feel, in judging a fowl for utility 
purposes, that the particular breed to which 
it belongs should be given much considera¬ 
tion. We arc looking for a shape and a size 
which we feel will produce the largest num¬ 
ber of eggs economically. We do not care 
for the color so much, nor for the particular 
kind of comb which the individual carries. 
What we want to find embodied in a utility 
fowl principally is plenty of vitality, alert¬ 
ness, a long back and rounded breast, an 
upright position, a bright eye, a medium 
size comb, fine bones and medium close 
plumage. If the individual has the particu¬ 
lar coloring for a particular breed in addi¬ 
tion to haying this length of back and 
breadth, we would consider it still more 
valuable. We do not want a massive bird, 
nor a real small bird, but a medium-sized 
individual which will make a desirable table¬ 
sized individual when her laying period is 
finished. We have also found that the 
medium-sized bird lays more eggs at a more 
economical rate per dozen than does the 
larger individual. c. a. Rogers. 
Cornell Agricultural College. 
A utility market fowl should have a yel¬ 
low skin, a full meaty breast, short shanks 
and a blocky body. As an egg producer 
their laying qualities should be considered 
from the records of her performances. Their 
plumage ought to be of a modest hue, one 
that would not show dust and dirt plainly 
and would not fade as quickly as do bright 
colored feathers. If I were judging utility 
fowls I would look for the meat producing 
qualities and then note the bright eye and 
nervous disposition usually found in good 
layers. o. j. i.ambert. 
R. I. College. 
There is no “standard” by which to judge 
utility fowls. We have a printed “Standard 
of Perfection” by which to judge fancy 
fowls, in which every part of the bird is 
fully described and a certain number of 
points allowed for the different parts, th« 
total number of points for a perfect bird 
amounting to 100. Judging utility fowls 
must be more or less guesswork, depending 
on the ideals of the judge. I doubt if any 
poultry judge could pick out from a flock 
of 100 fowls more than 75 per cent, of the 
best layers; that is, where the birds had 
been trap-nested and the best layers actually 
known, and like as not lie would miss the 
very best layer in the lot. In my own 
flock of White Wyandottes I have often 
been surprised to find some little undersized 
scalawag that would be laughed at in any 
poultry exhibition prove to be one of the 
best layers in the bunch. The attempt of 
the poultry fanciers was to shorten the 
body of the Wyandottes so that a model 
bird would touch a circle drawn around it 
at four points, viz., at front and rear and 
at top of back and bottom of body. I know 
a breeder who bad succeeded in breeding 
his Wyandottes to meet the ideals of the 
judges, and he won many premiums at the 
shows. I saw him not long ago. and he 
told me he had got out of Wyandottes ; said 
he hod bred them so they wouldn’t lay, or 
the eggs they did lay wouldn’t hatch. A 
few years ago Professor Graham of Storrs 
College, gave poultry lectures in Connec¬ 
ticut, illustrated with stereopticon pictures 
of hens that had laid over 200 eggs per year. 
The pictures were of ten or a dozen dif¬ 
ferent breeds, but in every case the hen iras 
an exceptionally lony-hodicd bird for that 
brood. What folly, then, for the fanciers td 
try to shorten up the body of the Wyan¬ 
dottes to meet some false idea of beauty ! I 
don’t exhibit at poultry shows because I 
want birds of a different type. My ideal 
for a layer is a bird long of body, wider in 
the rear than in front, legs set wide apart, 
short and stout back, fiery red head and 
comb, active in movement, one if the kind 
that is first off the roost in the morning and 
last to go to bed at night, and a good 
feeder. The hen that musses over her feed 
and rets dainty, as if it wasn’t good 
enough for her, is rarely a good layer. A 
utility male bird should conform, as far as 
a male can, to the shape requirements of 
the female, with the added pugnacity that 
his position as defender of the flock re¬ 
quires. That fighting instinct is nature’s 
insurance that the season’s progeny shall 
be out of the strongest and bravest male. 
GEO. A. COSGROVE. 
Failure to Keep Contracts. 
“I have been wondering for many months 
whether others of your subscribers have 
met with the unfortunate experiences that 
have come my way, and from sources where 
I least expected them. I refer to what 
seems an utter lack of any real feeling of 
responsibility among poultry breeders.” 
The writer of the above goes on to state 
that he made contracts early in the year 
with two different poultry men to supply 
three-months-old pullets. The agreement 
was clear, and our friend supposed of course 
that he was safely fixed with Winter layers. 
When time for delivery draws near he is 
informed that the pullets cannot be sup¬ 
plied. Now this buyers says : 
“I have not the slightest question that, 
in one and perhaps both of these cases, ad¬ 
vantage was taken of a somewhat higher 
price on some of the stock that was prom¬ 
ised to me, probably hoping to, somehow, 
make up my number later. It has been a 
disastrous experience for us, and, needing 
this young stock badly to replace older 
birds sold, we shall go far short of the num¬ 
ber we hoped to Winter, as we did last year. 
It is of course impossible for me to make 
any reasonable-priced contract now for the 
needed pullets.” 
Of course he could not prove this hut 
it is exasperating to be put off in this way 
after relying upon a denmte contract for 
delivery. The most common business cour¬ 
tesy should prompt a hen man to notify his 
customer when he finds he cannot supply 
the birds. Both of these dealers must have 
known long ago that they would be short. 
They should have let their customers know 
at once, so that he could buy elsewhere. 
Is this Yield Fair? 
I am sending you below a statement of 
some Plymouth Rock pullets. These chick¬ 
ens were hatched June 1, 1910. Will some 
of vour hen men tell me whether or not 
this* is a good record? That is, assuming 
these hens to be of good stock, and to have 
been handled as a competent poultr.vman 
would have handled them, should they have 
laid more eggs or not? I do not care so 
much about whether I got good results 
under my conditions, but am anxious to 
know whether a man who knows how to 
feed and care for poultry usually does bet¬ 
ter than this or not? 
.Tan. 1911.. .66 hens, 572 eggs average 8.7 
Feb. 1911 .. .04 hens, 1057 eggs average 10% 
Mar. 1911. . .02 hens. 1358 eggsaverage 21.4 
A pr. 1911... 60 liens, 1244 eggs average 20 2-3 
May 1911... 58 hens, 1110 eggs average 19 
June 1911 . .56 hens, 1050 eggs average 18% 
•Tune 1911.. .50 hens, 1050 eggs average 18% 
July 1911.. . 56 hens, 799 eggs average 14.3 
Aug. 1911.. .56 hens, 733 eggs average 13 
September to date about the same as 
August. c. E. M. 
New Jersey. 
Henhouse of Corrugated Iron. 
Can you give me any information on 
building chicken houses of corrugated iron? 
I wish to build my houses of a material 
that will allow me to burn trash in them 
and so get rid of mites, lice, etc., without 
such time consuming methods as spraying, 
painting, etc., with lice killers. IIow can 
I fasten the wall and roof together without 
the use of lumber? o. h. c. 
Oregon. 
We do not know of any experience with 
such a house. You could destroy the lice 
that way but the house would be roasting 
hot in Summer and freezing in Winter. 
We would not build it except in a small 
way to experiment. 
White Diarrhoea in Chicks. 
On page 735 we gave an extended report 
of the work at the Connecticut Experiment 
Station with the white diarrhoea disease. 
It was shown that this disease is caused 
by a germ which exists in the ovaries of 
some hens, and is found inside the egg. 
The germs are also spread through the 
food. The New York Veterinary College 
has now correlated these results and re¬ 
ports in a recent bulletin. It concludes 
that one frequent source of contagion oc¬ 
curs in the incubator after the chicks are 
hatched—when they pick at the egg shell*. 
Tlie following preventive measures are 
suggested : 
“Experiments have shown that the dis¬ 
ease is transmitted in three ways: (1) 
Through the egg. (2) By direct contact 
in the incubator with individuals that have 
acquired the disease through egg infection. 
(3) Rv day old chicks being placed In 
contaminated surroundings. 
“It has previously been suggested that 
the greatest infection takes place within 
the incubator during and immediately after 
hatching. Although tho probable number 
of eggs Infected Is small, a chick hatched 
from an infected egg could Infect a whole 
hatch. To guard against this it would be 
well just before the eggs hatch to place 
them in a pedigree tray. This trav con¬ 
sists of a metal box so constructed that it 
is divided into a large number of small 
compartments. Each compartment has a 
covering of wire. Not more than three 
eggs should be placed In a compartment 
After hatching the chicks should be left 
there until they are removed from the In¬ 
cubator. They can then be placed in a 
clean hover. Instead of placing the whole 
hatch of chicks together it would he better 
to divide the hover space by means of 
boards into as many pens as convenient. 
Not over 10 chicks should he kept in a pen. 
Tt would be well to place the same chick* 
from the incubator compartment in the 
same pen. This segregation should he 
continued until the chicks have reached 
the age of four days. The boards c*n 
then be removed and the chicks permitted 
to run together. All chicks showing symp¬ 
toms should be removed to a special pen 
Those recovering from the disease should 
not be used for breeding purposes. The 
chicks that did not show symptoms of the 
disease can be used as breeders in the 
Spring. It is recommended that the old 
fowls be marketed or kept separate from 
the young stock, as they may be spreading 
the infection 
“Too much stress cannot bo placed on the 
thorough disinfection of the hovers and 
brooders and the burning of the used litter. 
For disinfecting purposes the following 1* 
recommended : one part crude carbolic acid, 
one part commercial sulphuric acid and 
forty parts of water. The acids should be 
mixed in a wooden vessel and the water 
added slowly. The hovers, floors and run¬ 
ways should be thoroughly sprayed with 
this solution. Scalding of the feeding and 
drinking utensils is recommended. An¬ 
other point to be borne in mind is the 
indiscriminate purchasing of eggs for 
hatching and of day old chicks. Several 
serious outbreaks of the disease have come 
to our notice caused by the hatching of 
eggs from infected sources.” 
You might not think it but there is con¬ 
siderable complaint about hens that will not 
roost. Early in the season these birds get 
the habit of squatting on the floor or on a 
nest box and the habit is hard to break 
off. It does not seem a sure part of hen 
instinct to grasp a pole while asleep. 
Your Best Insurance 
against accident when driv¬ 
ing along dark roads is one 
of our famous Rayo Driving 
Lamps. 
Rayo Driving Lamps will 
not blow or jar out. 
They are smaller than 
other driving lamps, but 
have a magnifying power 
that throws a bright light 
many feet ahead, while the 
extra large ruby disc in the 
rear is readily discernible in 
any weather. 
Rayo Driving Lamps are fur¬ 
nished with double side bracket 
attachments, to fit square or round 
posts. They can be used on all 
kinds of vehicles. 
In addition to Driving 
Lamps, the Rayo line in¬ 
cludes lanterns of all styles, 
sizes and finishes—each the 
best of its particular kind. 
All are equipped with select¬ 
ed Rayo globes, with wicks 
inserted in burners ready to 
light. 
Dealers everywhere ; or 
write for descriptive circular to any agency 
of the 
Standard Oil Company 
(Incorporated) 
k M A K A-SII KL SOLUBLE 
lRoughest grit on earth. In¬ 
creases egg production. 
_ Tho original silica grit. 
‘ , Avoid substitutes. Ask 
your local dealer or 
send 81.00 for two 
100-lb. bags f. o. b. 
Box J 
GRIT 
cars. Agents wanted. 
EDGE HILL SILICA ROCK CO. 
New Brunswick, N. J. 
Crystal White Orpingtons cuar S ant C eed N 
Write RAY SCHERMERHORN, Box B, South Hammond, N.Y. 
B arred Plymouth rocks and r. c. r. i. reds- 50 big, 
husky, vigorous cockerels for sale at fanner s 
prices. G, F, Williamson, Flanders, N. J. 
Pfllll TR YM F N —■^ ont fMl to secure Stock and 
rUULI m I III Lll Eggs at our reduced prices. 
EAST DONEGAL POULTRY YARDS. Marietta,Pa. 
PULLETS WANTED 
Any part of four hundred (400) April-hatched, full 
or nearly full-grown White Leghorn Pullets, and 
one hundred (108) Rhode Island Rod Pullets. Must 
be first-class. Name lowest price. 
I. S. LONG, Richland, Lebanon Co., Pa. 
POULTRY SEED CORN 
Specially small for poultry. Best of its kind. No 
grinding or cracking necessary. Only small 
amount left at $2.00 per bushel. MAPLE GLEN 
POULTRY FARM. Miu.krton, N. Y. 
SAVE HALF Your 
Paint Bills 
By using INGERSOLL PAINT — proved 
best by 66 years’ use. It will please you. 
Only Paint endorsed by the “Grange.’' 
Made in all colors,—for all purposes. 
DELIVERED FREE. 
Frcm the Mill Direct to You at Factory Price*. 
INGERSOLL PAINT BOOK —FREE 
Tells all about Paint and Painting fT Durability. 
How to avoid trouble and expense caused by paint* 
fading, chalking and peeling. Valuable information 
free to you. with Sample Color Cards, Write me. DO 
IT NOW. I can save you money. 
0. W. Ingersoll, 24b Plymouth Si, Brooklyn, N.Y. 
MAKE HENS LAY 
By feeding raw bone. Its egg-producing value Is four 
times that of grain. Eggs more fertile, chicks mo rn 
vigorous, broilers earlier, fowls heavier,! 
profits larger. 
MANN’S l mSd!l Bone Cutter 
Cuts all bone with adhering meat and 
S rlstle. Never clogs. 10 Days' Froe Trial, 
o money In advance. 
Send Today for Free Book, 
t. W. Mann Co., Box 15 , Milford, Mass, 
MacKellar’s Charcoal 
For Poultry is l>est. Coarse or fine granulated, also 
powdered. Buy direct from largest manufacturers of 
Charcoal Products. Ask for prices and samples. Est. 1814 
R. MaeKELLAR’S SONS CO., Peekskill, N.Y. 
^Ha C n ele and te E d na.ish PARTRIDGES I PHEASANTS 
Capercailzies, Black Gamo, Wild Turkeys, Quails, 
Rabbits, Deer, etc., for stocking purposes. Fancy 
Pheasants, Peafowl, Cranes, Storks, Beautiful 
Swans, Ornamental Geese and Ducks, Foxes. 
Squirrels, Ferrets, and all kinds of birds and 
animals. .Send four cents for illustrated descriptive 
circulars. WENZ 8 MACKENSEN, Dept. 10, Pheasantry 
and Game Park, Yardley, Pa. 
PULLETS and YEARLING HENS 
dottes, single and rose comb; Brown and W. Leg¬ 
horns, R. I. Reds; from 80 cents por head up. Write 
for just what you want and bow much von wish to 
invest. Maple Cove Poultry Yards, R. 24 Athens, Pa. 
BARRED ROCKS 
DOTTES, PARTRIDGE COCHINS. We liavo a 
fine lot of youngsters. Prize-winning strain. 
MINCH BROS., Route 3, Bridgeton, N. J. 
Snow White Wyandottes STrW 
lay. Circular free. Goldenrod Farm Stewartstown, Pa. 
THE FARMER’S FOWL— Rose Comb Reds, best winter 
layers Oil earth. Eggs, $1.00 per 15. Catalogue 
free. THOS. WILDER, Route 1, Richland, N. Y. 
Rose Comb Reds-Indian Runner Ducks 
High-class breeders and young stock for show, 
utility and export. .May return ;it my expense if not 
satisfactory. Sinclair Smith, G02 Fifth St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Indian Runner Ducks ga.Tl’ 
I bUS $1.00—Leading varieties, 52 breeds. Prize roul- 
ZU try. Pigeons, Hares, etc. Booklet froe. Dirge illus¬ 
trated descriptive Catalog 10c. F. G. WILE, Telford, Pa. 
5000 
Plymouth Rooks, Imperial Pekin Ducks, 
Bronze Turkeys and Guinea Hens at 
right prices. Yearlings, pullets, cocks or cockerels. 
Order at once for best selections. Largest success, 
ful poultry plant in the vicinity of New York City. 
Agents Cyphers’ Incnbators. 
BONNIE BRAE POULTRY FARM New Rochelle, N. Y. 
DULLETS AND YEARLING HENS, W. C* B. 
* Leghorns, W. Wyandottes, from 80 cents each 
up. Write for just what you want. MAPLE 
COVE POULTRY YARDS, R. 24, Athens, Pa. 
SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGHORNS 
Choice lot Yearling Hens, Early Pullets '‘.nd Cock¬ 
erels; any quantitv at attractive prices; hred-to-lay 
kind. SUNNY HILL FARM, Fleminoton, N. J. 
Wo are offering at present some Very Choice 
S. C. White Leghorn and 
S. C. Rhode Island Red OLKUl clo 
at reasonable prices. 
POULTRY DEPT., CHESTNUT HILL FARMS, C0ALBURG, OHIO. 
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR INCOME? 
Would $500, or more, a year on the 
side be an object to you? 
You can easily make and exceed that amount in the poultry 
business without interfering with your regular work. Consump¬ 
tion of poultry products is fast over-taking production. The 
producers can not keep abreast with the needs of the increas¬ 
ing population. Now a billion dollars are spent annually for 
poultry and eggs. Why don’t you get a part of that enor¬ 
mous sum? You can, if you will. 
it 
Side-Line Poultry Keeping 
»» 
$ 1 , 009.31 
is the amount F. H.’Dunlap of West Salisbury, N. H„ 
cleared from his hens in 1910, and did not devote more 
IjAVAWeVt/ than two hours a day to them. You can t learn the 
secrets of his success in the book, “Side-Line Poultry Keeping”, 
was the net profit made by R. A. Richardson. Haverhill, Mass., in 1910, who 
attended to his regular work as a shoe cutter. The details of his success are also 
told in “Side-Line Poultry Keeping ” 
THIS RELIABLE BOOK 
is by Edgar Warren, who writes in such a simple, pleasing manner that any novice can understand and follow the 
instructions which lead eventually to success. It is of special value to the person who desires to add several 
hundred dollars to his annual income without interfering with his regular work. It covers every detail of the hen 
business and its allied interests—hatching, brooding, selecting layers, feeding for growth and fertile eggs, dressing, 
shipping, selling, treatment for internal and external ailments, ‘‘Laying Down Eggs" for perfec 1 keeping, etc., etc. 
£ *| ££ Price 50c. or book and American Poultry Advocate, I year, 75c.. or book and 2 
\ f| A Ft Jl 1 I OTTPI* * years’ subscription for $1.00, or premium for two yearly subscriptions at 50c. each. 
U|/vvlUl V/llvl • Our paper is handsomely illustrate!, 44 to 1 20 pages, 50c a year. 3 months. 10c. 
Sample free. Poultry book catalog free. 
AMERICAN POULTRY ADVOCATE, 170 Hodgkins Building, SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
Heesen’s Feed Cooker 
Doubles the value of feed—fattens pigs—keeps 
all stock sleek and well. Strong, simple, quick heating and 
ever-lasting—a strong cast iron caldron kettle and seamles* 
sheet steel jacket. 
Get This Handy 40-Page Book Free. We will 
mail you a 40 P. 1912 Almanac full of valuable and handy information, 
together wiih our catalog of 7 sizes of Feed Cookers and Tank Heaters, 
post paid on request. Write today. 
Heesen Bros. 6 Co. Box 72 Tecumseh, Mich. 
