Iht RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
949 
The Henyard 
Profit in Poultry 
Many farmers here complain that 
chicken farming does not pay, while 
others claim that, it does. It seems 
as though there is some solution of this 
problem. I am concerned as to whether 
“the law of diminishing returns” oper¬ 
ates in any form in this business. What 
is you opinion? • M. T. P. 
Long Island. 
It is as impossible to make a categor¬ 
ical statement as to whether or not poul¬ 
try farming pays as it is to say whether 
or not. any other industry pays. Does 
mining pay? Does dairying pay? Does 
the manufacture of shoes pay? There is 
nothing inherent in the business of poul¬ 
try keeping that either guarantees profit 
or makes loss inevitable. Like all 
branches of farming, it is subject to vary¬ 
ing economic conditions that make the 
opportunities for profit or the danger of 
loss greater at one time than at another. 
For the past several years poultry keep¬ 
ing seems to have had the advantage over 
many other kinds of farming, and profits 
have been proportionately greater. That 
happy period, in the opinion of many, is 
passing, however, and the next few years 
are likely to see it become more difficult 
to keep fowls at a satisfactory profit. It 
probably is not a favorable time to invest 
heavily in the business, though no one 
can say what the future will bring forth, 
and poultry keeping will continue to be, 
as all branches of agriculture have al¬ 
ways been, a gamble with the forces of 
nature that are beyond man’s control, 
and economic forces that, if controlled 
at all, are not likely to be controlled in 
the interest of the producer. 
It is an old question: “Does poultry 
keeping pay?” It is impossible of ans¬ 
wer ; statistics are of no value, except as 
to limited periods of time and individual 
cases, and it can be solved only by each 
individual for himself, through experi¬ 
ence. In this, as in other things, experi¬ 
ence is the best teacher, if one isn’t par¬ 
ticular about rates for tuition. M. b. d. 
Maturing Pullets Without Molt 
Will you tell me how to handle my 
Hock of 400 S. C. White Leghorn pul¬ 
lets, hatched April 8? I want to put 
them through so they will not molt in the 
early Winter, as they have done for me 
heretofore. I have been feeding dry mash 
of ground corn and oats, bran, middlings, 
meat scrap, and also feed whole grain. 
Should I cut out the dry mash till about 
Sept. 1? What time should they be put 
into Winter quarters? I have always let 
them run at large, roost in trees, etc., till 
November, before shutting them in the 
laying-house. H. E. G. 
Michigan. 
Don’t cut out the dry mash, but make 
whole grain a large part of their food, 
and watch them in late Summer for signs 
of premature maturing, as evidenced by 
comb development, etc. If maturing too 
fast, cut down or omit mash, and feed 
more whole grain. Try to have them 
ready to go into Winter quarters with an 
abundance of fat upon a well-developed, 
sturdy frame. This fat will be put on by 
whole grain feeding, rather than by high- 
protein mashes, and will serve the same 
purpose that the “soft fat” of a dairy 
cow does when she begins her milking 
period. The pullets should g > into Win¬ 
ter quarters before the cold, sour weather 
of Fall begins. As we have had nothing 
else this year, so far, I can’t name any 
date when a change may be expected, but 
late October is likely to be about the 
time. At any rate, get them in before 
laying begins so that no change need be 
made after production starts. It is some 
sudden change in feeding or care that 
usually starts the undesired molting, 
though early-hatched chicks may matnre 
too early. They should be indoors in 
time to become fully accustomed to their 
new quarters before really beginning to 
lay. Trees are good roosting places for 
pullets while growing; ventilation is ade¬ 
quate and there is no crowding, but guard 
against Fall colds when housing tree- 
reared pullets by giving room and ample 
ventilation without direct drafts. F-rom 
what yon say, I judge that you have here¬ 
tofore fed too largely upon mash as your 
pullets approached maturity. M. B. D. 
Hair or Feathers 
I say the fine hairs or fuzz left on a 
chicken (what one singes off) after pick¬ 
ing the feathers, are hairs. Another per¬ 
son says they are feathers, or will ma¬ 
ture to feathers. Who is right? Are 
they hairs or feathers? mbs. a. c. 
New York. 
I am afraid that you will have to agree 
upon a definition of “feather” before you 
can settle your dispute. The down and 
other hair-like structures forming appen¬ 
dages to the skin are not complete feath¬ 
ers, and do not become fully formed feath¬ 
ers, but they may be considered feathers 
with some portions of their structure 
missing—modified feathers. If you wish 
to call all the plumage of a fowl feathers, 
these are feathers. The baby plumage, or 
down, arises from the same places as the 
later formed feathers and might be called 
baby feathers. Other hair-like structures 
are known as filoplumes, from Slum, 
thread, and pluma, feather. You may 
call them thread-feathers. m. b. d. 
Size of Brooder House 
What size brooder house is needed for 
brooding 100 chicks? Ilow high in front 
and back? What size of door, window 
and curtain? c. R. 
New Jersey. 
There is no definite size required for a 
brooder hoxxse for 100 chicks. You may 
make a brooder of any size that you wish, 
provided only that you can warm it suffi¬ 
ciently. The old style small brooder, 
heated by lamp and supposed to accom¬ 
modate about 100 chicks, was G ft. long, 
3 ft. wide, 30 in. high, iix front and 18 in. 
in the rear. The front had two large 
sash doors to admit light. That was a 
very convenient size, being portable and 
suited to moving about to new ground as 
grass became short. The roofs of these 
little brooders were removable, for easy 
access to the interior when cleaning them. 
The standard size of larger portable 
brooders, for use with a coal-burning 
brooder stove, is 8 or 10 ft. by 12. These 
will care for 500 chicks to maturity, 
cockerels being removed when large 
enough to ship. When heat is not needed, 
perches may be placed in them for the 
pullets to use until time to place them in 
permanent quarters. These large brood¬ 
ers have two windows of good size in 
front, and a door for entrance. They are 
high enough to walk about comfortably. 
M. B. t>. 
Symptoms of Foot-and-mouth Disease 
1. Woxild you print the symptoms of 
the foot-and-mouth disease? And are 
there any cases of it in New York State? 
2. I have an eight-year-old mare with 
some kind of hoof or foot trouble. The 
first I noticed was a raw, discharging 
sore, about 2 in. wide and appai'ently oix 
the surface. It has grown until it ex¬ 
tends about 6 in. up the back of her foot 
and down into the frog of her foot. The 
frog looks cracked and is discharging. I 
have soaked her foot in disinfectant, but 
it appears to grow worse instead of bet¬ 
ter. a. R. 
New York. 
1. The contagious foot-an'd-mouth dis¬ 
ease which is prevalent in Great Britain 
at the present time and is also being 
fought with success in California, but not 
present in any other State, ‘attacks only 
cloven-footed animals. It may also oc¬ 
casionally affect man in a mild form, be¬ 
ing contracted from the milk of an af¬ 
fected cow. It is the most infectious dis¬ 
ease of cattle and spreads to sheep, goats 
and swine. For that reason it is the 
policy of our government to slaughter and 
bury in quicklime all affected and ex¬ 
posed susceptible animals on a farm. 
That also is the course in Great Britain. 
Ownei's are compensated for the animals 
that are condemned and slaughtered by 
the authorities in the process of eradicat¬ 
ing the disease. 
The disease is caused by a virus which 
cannot be seen by the strongest micro¬ 
scope, and which passes through a porce¬ 
lain filter. It is therefore called an ultra- 
microscopic filterable virus. Recently it 
was announced that two German scien¬ 
tists have discovered the virus, as a 
micro-organism, by a photographic pro¬ 
cess in connection with microscopy, and 
they hope to be able to produce an ef¬ 
fective biologic for the prevention and 
possibly the cure of the disease. Vesicles 
break out on the lining membranes of 
the mouth and about the muzzle of an 
attacked animal, and also upon the hoof- 
heads and between the toes. The vesi¬ 
cles, or blisters, contain lymph which car¬ 
ries the infective virus. When the vesi¬ 
cles burst, large sores are left and be¬ 
come crusted over. If not reinfected with 
filth germs the sores or ulcers soon heal. 
An affected cow shrinks in milk yield, 
has fever, at first, loses appetite and be¬ 
comes lame. There is a profuse flow of 
saliva in strings from the mouth, and a 
loud smacking of the lips. Hogs are 
mostly affected with the hoof form of the 
disease. 
It is not a virulent disease, only about 
2 per cent of attacked animals dying, un¬ 
less the attack takes an unusually se¬ 
vere form, or secondary infection by filth 
germs occur; but it spreads so quickly 
and causes sxxch tremendous economic 
losses in milk, meat, etc., that the 
slaughter process of eradication is deemed 
necessary. 
2. The horse in question apparently 
is suffering from thrush and canker of the 
frog and nearby parts of the foot. You 
do not state that there is any soreness of 
the mouth. The cause of thrush and 
canker is prolonged standing in wet and 
filth in the stable or out of doors. The 
horn of the frog becomes rotten. A thin, 
foul-smelling discharge comes from the 
cleft of the frog. In canker the frog and 
nearby parts of the sole become fleshy or 
fungus-like, and the growths sprout im¬ 
mediately when cut or burned down. 
Canker is very difficult to cure. Cut 
away all loose, rotten or under-run horn 
of frog or sole, after perfectly cleansing 
the hoof. Then pack calomel into the 
cleft of the frog and other cracks and 
cover those parts with oakum on which 
a little pine tar has been spread. Renew 
the dressing daily and keep the horse in 
a box stall, bedded with clean, dry baled 
shavings or sawdust. If canker is pres¬ 
ent, cleanse the foot, cut away loose or 
rotten horn, swab the sprouting growth 
with full strength formalin and then cov¬ 
er the part with powdered alum held in 
place by covering with absorbent cotton 
or oakum, and then with a strip of thin 
metal crossing the frog and tucked at 
each end under the edges of the shoe. If 
necessary, a blacksmith could make a 
special plate to screw onto the shoe and 
keep the dressing in place. Renew the 
alum powder daily. Have the horse stand 
on engine cinders when in the stable. 
A. 8. A. 
“Why,” said the insurance agent, “in¬ 
surance is the greatest thing in the world. 
No man should be without it. I even 
carry a $50,000 policy, payable to my 
wife.” “It’s too much,” said the har- 
rassed prospect. “What excuse can you 
give her for living?”—Houston Post. 
» ALL 
Leaxhe 
SHOE 
An honest to goodness 
qualitv shoe. Biggest 
bargain 
offered in 
years. The 
shoes are 
inspected 
and built 
to stand 
rigid speci¬ 
fications, Munson toe of chrome leather 
uppers, double thick solid leather heels and 
soles, will surely last more than six months. 
All Sizes 
$085 
SEND NO MONEY— Pay postman $2.86 plus postage 
on delivery. Money back if not satisfied. 
INTERNATIONAL COMM. HOUSE, Dept. B-287 
433 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 
Leghorn Pullets 
Free range Milk fed 
8-10-12 weeks old Immediate delivery 
Stephen Brundage 
Salisbury Mills New York 
CHICKS 
FROM GOOD FREE RANGE STOCK 
Hocks, lOc ; Wyandottes, 11c; Leghorns, 8c; 
Mixed, 7c. Special price on large lots. Delivery 
guaranteed, Catalog and Ref. free. 
LONG’S RELIABLE HATCHERY, Millerstown, Pa. Box 50 
CHICK PRICES SMASHED 
June, July, Aug. and Sept. $7 per 100 and up. 
-r Hogan tested. White,Brownand Black Leghorns, 
1100—#8; Black Minorca®, Anconas, 100—#10; 
Barred Rocks, W hite Wy andottes, 100—$ 11. Reds, 
100—$12. Broilers, 100—$7. 100# live deli very 
guaranteed. We ship anywhere by Parcel Post. 
Free Catalog. Reference: lakes burg State Bank. 
Johnson’s Hatchery Box 40 Ickosburg, Pa. 
c XX x 
S. C. W. Leghorn, Tom B 
S. C. Buff Leghorn. 
American White Leghorn. 
Hock and Reds. 
White Rocks. 
Mixed.. 
CLOYD NIEMOND 
C K S 
arron.$9.00 per 100 
. 9.00 per 100 
. 7 .OO per 100 
■. 9.50 per 100 
.11.00 per 100 
. 5.75 per 1U0 
McAlisterville, Pa, 
S. C. Reds, 11c. B. P. 
Rocks.1 Oc. S.C.W Leg¬ 
horns, 8 c, and Mixed 
chicks 7c. These chicks are 
all fiom free range stock. 
Safe delivery and satisfaction guaranteed Booklet free. 
W. A. LAUVER McAlisterville, Pa. 
LfliUVx) Reds, $12 per 100; Rooks, $10 per 100; White 
Leghorns, *7 per 100 ; Mixed, *7 per 100. 
Turkey Ridge llatchcry R. D. No. 3 Millerstown, Pa, 
O U I P If Q S. C.W Leghorns, 8c; 
■ Mixed, 7c. Special prices 
ou 500 and 1,000 lots. 100# guaranteed. All free range 
stock. Circular free. F. B. FRYMOYER, McAllatervlIlr, Pa. 
CHICKS From Heavy-Laying Flocks 
Barred Rocks, 9c ; Reds, 9c and Mixed, 7c. 100# safo 
delivery. H. W.AMEY C'oculnmus, J’n. 
BARRON XNLTHITE XjEGHOR NS 
Large type, lopped comb. 70# egg yield for eleven con¬ 
secutive months. Hens, pullets, cockerels. Circular. 
Plankton Poultry Plant - Sycamore, Ohio 
Pure.Bred Single Comb 
WHITE LEGHORNS 
10-12-14 and 16-wks.-old. Also ready-to-la.v, free- 
range birds from selected breeders. Priced SSI and 
up. according to age. Fisher Bros., Atlantic, Fa. 
FIRST-CLASS S.C.W. LEGHORN COCKERELS 
straight Tancred Strain, March hatched. Pure bred 
sires, dams with records of from 270-200 eggs. 
S. C. pill | CTO March hatched, same breeding. 
W. L. r ULLtlil Strong, vigorous, free range birds. 
J. F. At B. R. LOCKE, Vlnoland, N. J. Phone 52-R 3 
PULLETS S. C. White Leghorn kZl 1 . we?! 1 * 1 ;,,™ 
on free alfalfa range. 12 wks. old, *1.25 each, delivered 
express ottice. StONET TREBLE. P. O. Ilolley, Orleans Co., N.V. 
Barron LEGHORN PULLETS 
Hatched April 1st, $1.25 each if taken by July 1st. Also 
May hatched for sale later. W. l>. IIAI.K, New Berlin, ft. Y. 
Whitp Wvanrlntfpc 2-4-6-8-wks. old, cheap. Older Stork. 
Ullllc "jfullUUHcb Egg and Exhibition bred. Catalogue. 
Bowden White Wyandotto Specialist, Mansfield, Ohio 
Whitp WvanHnttPC Trap-nested hens and pullets for 
nmie nydnuunes gHle- reC ords up to 269 «ggx. 
Greenwood Farm Fornpton Lakes, N. J. 
BARRED ROCKS - Whits Leghorn, Breeders, Eggs 
Chicks at reduced prices. 10-12 wks.-old White Leghorn 
pullets, ready May 10th. Circular. 
Jules F. Francals Westhampton Beach, N. Y. 
PI-Jy Bar Rocks, Oe; Reds, 10 c; W. Leghorns, 7c; 
111 A. Mixed, Oe. 100# arrival guaranteed. Order 
from adv. or circular. TWIN HATCHERY, McAliatervlIle, |>a 
S P ANnANAQ Sheppard’s Famous I’rlaie \\ In. 
. V. HnUUIlHO nlng Laying Strain. 75 choice 
breeding hens, 5 males. Many cost gl each when day-old 
chicks. Bargain price to quick buyer. Eggs, $1.50—15 ■ 
$8—100, prepaid. O. 81 VI VI 8. Box T, Lake, Mew York 
S P Annnnn fihiy ®*l P® 1 ' *6°' $ 5 -75—50 ; my own pure 
. U. HlHiUnd UNIX bred Hoelt of heavy layers. Live ar¬ 
rival guaranteed. €. A. CARLIN, McAllstorvillo, Pa. 
J ersey ltlaek Giant stock. Hatching eggs.babv 
chicks. BLAL VKLT - Holmdel, N. J. 
R l Rode 2-4-6-8-wks -old, cheap. Fine quality. 
. I. fltJUb s _ Bowden Box 195 M.n.fl 
Mansliold, O. 
MAKE MONEY RAISING SQUABS! 
Highest market ever known. Breeders shipped 
everywhere. Homers,Carneaux. White Kings 
a specialty. All other breeds. Write bn Prices 
Allston Squab Co., ^lstSn^mass. 
PS DUCKLINGS 
Eggs and Brakes 
Prick List P k k k 
PARDEE'S PEKINS, Islip, N. T. 
MAMMOTH BRONZETURKEYS 
$5 per 12 eggs. Postpaid. Prompt shipment. Fer¬ 
tility guaranteed. H. A. Souder, Sellersville, Pa. 
Mammoth Bronze Turkey Eggs 
Order from this adv. II. II. FREED Tellortl, l’a. 
BEAUANDOT nncUinnc are unexcelled. Liberal guarantee 
MAMMOTH DUUUIIIgb Bred right. Hatched right. Shipped 
PEKIN light. BEAUANDOT DUCK RANCH. Sag Harbor. L. I.. N. I. 
KENT BARRED ROCKS 
Pens in all leading egg laying contests. Breeding bens 
and cocks at reduced prices until Sept. 1. Catalogue free 
VV. II, II. KENT • - CAZENOVIA, N. Y. 
S.C.R.I. RED CHICKS 
PRICES 
REDUCED 
Vibert’s 289-egg straiu. From trapnested, non-sitting liens. Chicks, S20 per 100. Hatching eggs, $8 per 100 
A. H. FINGAR - SUNNYBROOK POULTRY FARM - ELIZA VILLE, N. Y. 
PINE TREE BABY CHICKS 
20,000 sturdy, quick growing, day-olds for prompt June and July deliveries. 
S. C. White Leghorns. $5.50 
Barred Plymouth Rocks. 
Rhode Island Reds. 
_Wh. Wyandottes, Wh. Rocks or Anconas 
Sent! in your order Mixed Varieties. 5.50 
before it ’3 too late PINE TREE HATCHERY Box R 
oualityIservice 
50 
100 
500 
1.000 
$5.50 
$ 9.50 
$4 5 00 
$ 90 00 
7.50 
13.00 
65.00 
125.00 
7.50 
13.00 
65.00 
125.00 
9.50 
15.50 
75.00 
150.00 
5.50 
9.00 
45.00 
Stockton. New Jersey 
