Pout,TRY Raising in Colorado 
9 
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much more profit, and carrying* water to a large number of fowls is 
certainly very expensive by reason of the time and labor consumed. 
Where water is furnished, cleanliness should be carefully observed. 
Galvanized iron or stoneware drinking vessels are preferable. Wooden 
troughs are objectionable because they furnish lodgment for disease 
germs. Concrete troughs cost very little if made at home and are sanit¬ 
ary and enduring. 
INCUBATION 
It is our opinion that incubators are doing a better work, are more 
successful, than we think. Most people expect too much from a ma¬ 
chine. They read in incubator catalogs only about the big hatches, 
never about the failures. Poultry papers tell the big stories, the 
man who fails seldom writes for the press. In comparing incubator 
hatches with those made by hens, we forget the hens’ failures, do not 
even have the average in mind, and of course are disappointed at any¬ 
thing less than a 90% hatch. 
There is no v/ay of knowing, but we believe that not half the eggs 
entrusted to the hens produce strong chicks and that not half of the 
chicks hatched live to marketing size. If these figures are at all near 
the truth, a 50% incubator hatch would be gratifying. If we were to 
call for testimonials, hundreds could respond with reports of 50% to 
80% hatches thruout the*season. The cause of poor hatches in the 
incubator, especially if the hens are doing good work with the same 
eggs, is probably mismanagement, possibly poor construction of the 
m.achine. If more attention were given the iDreeding stock, more and 
stronger chicks would result. Immature breeding stock, forciiig for 
eggs out of season, overfat old stock and lack of range or exercise are 
causes of much disappointment in hatching chicks. It pays to follow the 
instructions received with the machine until thoroughly convinced that 
some other way is better. Manufacturers have experimented much 
to make their machines do satisfactory work and can often help out 
wnen hatches are poor. 
THE BEST BREED 
Farmers’ Bulletin No. 51 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture 
gives a description and history of the various breeds of poultry. The 
Reliable Poultry Publishing Company, Quincy, Ill., publishes some very 
good booklets on various breeds. 
Regardless of sentiment or personal preference, one should con¬ 
sider market requirements, whether egg or flesh production, or both, 
is intended. The family trade may and often does want a different 
fowl than does the commission merchant or hotel. The wholesale 
trade of Denver wants a large carcass, five pounds or over. The 
average family prefers a smaller fowl, especially at present prices. The 
preference for yellow skinned fowls is not so marked as formerly, as 
milk feeding is very generally practiced and this method of fattening 
produces rather a white carcass. Uniformit}^ is appreciated ; pure bred 
stock is preferred, especially those of the American class. 
The Plymouth Rock is still a great favorite in the open market, 
but others of the same class find as ready a welcome. Some of the 
