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NORTH SHORE'S BIG POULTRY YARD 
EXTENSIVE ENTERPRISE IN 
CHICKEN AND EGG BUSINESS AT MAGNOLIA. 
LARGE 
UNDERTAKING PLANNED WITH THOUSANDS OF CHICKENS. 
ITUATED on the state highway at Magnolia, 
occupying a commanding location, with build- 
ings of all sizes, is the largest poultry farm on 
the North Shore, and being near to one of the 
best markets possible, every broiler. and roaster has 
already been sold with summer season only begun. This 
coupled with the unlimited demand for fresh eggs, 
vhere price is no object with the consumer would make 
cven the worst pessimist believe there was money in 
the poultry business. 
In 1908, Clifford B. Story of Magnolia and Charles 
O. Billings of Newton, started the nucleus of the North 
Shore Poultry Company, under the name of the Mag- 
ncolia Poultry Farm. The location of the farm was on 
Magnolia avenue, and that has been the location until 
recently and even at this time is used to a considerable 
extent by the new company. 
In the beginning, 50 hens constituted the only stock 
of the concern but 
it has grown tre- 
mendously until 
in 1910, approxi- 
mately 1000 lay- 
ing hens were 
kept and 6000 
chickens raised, 
together with 
about 2000 duck- 
lings, and in 1911, 
this year, approxi- 
mately 1500 layers 
and 9000 chiekens 
raised. No ducks 
have been raised 
this year owing to 
the transfer of the 
plant fom Magno- 
ha avenue to the 
new ground on the 
state highway be- 
tween Gloucester 
and Magnolia, but 
it is the expecta- 
tion of the company to start early next spring in the 
production of ducklings. There is on the new land an 
excellent opportunity for a pond, but it is doubtful if 
this will be used as it is not necessary that ducks have 
water. 
In 1910, the Magnolia poultry farm ceased to exist 
and was taken over and incorporated under the name 
oY the North Shore Poultry Company. The new con- 
cern owns 20 acres of excellent land well suited to the 
raising of its products. A considerable portion of this 
equipment of the company consists of one large house, 
land has been cleared, and coops, runs, pens and houses 
erected for the carrying on of the large business. The 
200 feet long, with a capacity of 2000 laying hens, a 
eyain house, and over that a tenement for a hired man, 
who is always on the premises. There are 10 incubators 
with a capacity of 4000 eggs, one brooder heated by a 
hot water system, with a capacity of 1000 chickens, 40 
individual brooders, with a capacity of 2000 chickens, 
ASE 
STION OF THE FARM 
together with a large number of: colony houses to take 
care of the growing youngsters. 
In the process of construction are an incubator cel- 
lar, which when completed will have a capacity of 
12,000 eggs, and also a brooder house which will take 
care of 6000 chickens. With these new buildings com- 
pleted and an additional laying house, the concern ex- 
pects to produce each year approximately 25,000 chicks 
and 5000 ducklings, and to keep annually 7000 laying 
hens. The company does not depend for its water supply 
on the city, but has a private system of its own. The 
viater comes from a large well on the property, and is 
pumped by a power engine into an under-ground tank 
holding 1500 gallons, from which it is forced by com- 
pressed air to the various buildings under 70 pounds to 
the square inch. Hydrants are being installed in the 
yards for the purpose of watering the fowls and also 
for fire protection. The system is not entirely completed 
but work is pro- 
gressing rapidly. . 
The breeding is 
done by selected 
fowl in eolony 
houses, each con- 
taining 25 _ hens 
and two cockerels. 
All the fowls are 
kept under strict- 
ly sanitary condi- 
tions (the houses 
are light and airy) 
and are fed on 
whole grain, meat 
and vegetable. 
matter, and pure 
water which is 
kept clean by be- 
ing changed often. 
Formerly commer- 
cial grain was 
used entirely, but 
now all is com- 
pounded on _ the 
farm from private formulas. It was found that this not 
only gave better results but was very much cheaper. 
The chickens grow faster on the prepared food and it is 
possible to produce a six-pound duck or a correspond- 
ingly heavy chicken in ten weeks. This of course means 
a large increase in the profit. As no swill or offal of 
any kind is fed to the growing stock or layers,it ‘of 
course is More expensive to produce them, conseauently. 
the price may be a trifle higher, but the finished product 
easily makes up for the difference. 
The trade of the company consists of private. fam- 
ilies from Beverly all along the North Shore, together  » 
with markets, clubs and hotels in the same district... 
The company delivers no goods at retail and évery- 
thing is killed to order, and in the summer time, which. 
is of course the busiest season, two men are kept-busy 
filling the orders of the trade.__All goods sold at whole- 
sale are delivered. 
