Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1918 — HATCH EARLY IS MOST IMPORTANT [ARTICLE]

HATCH EARLY IS MOST IMPORTANT

Chicks Grow Faster and Stand Hot Weather Much Better. BIRDS BRING HIGHER PRICES Pullets Produced That Lay When Eggs Are Scarcest —Be Cautious in Starting Business of "DayOld" Chicks. Unless a special effort Is made throughout the country to hatch the 1918 chicken crop early, the nation’s need for a greatly Increased output of poultry flesh and eggs is not likely to be fully met. While chickens can be hatched at any tft|eof the year, it is the chicken's hatchal early in the spring that give the best results. Hatching should begin from February 1 in the South to March 1 in the North and West, and should be completed by May 1. The usual time for starting the incubators and sitting hens coincides too closely with the planting season on the farms and hatching operations are likely to be reduced on that account. Therefore, hatch early. Chick Business. The city poultry keeper should tackle the business of hatching chicks or buying and rearing “day-old” chicks cautiously or not at all. Often it is inad-

vtsable to attempt to renew the city poultry flock even though the temptation comes strongly to the poultry beginner with the first warm days of spring. Previous experience in the raising of chicks often increases the chances of success, but the land available to the back-yard poultryman usually is too small to undertake a chick business. No attempt should be made to raise chicks unless a plot can be provided separate from that to which the hens have access and upon which there is grass or where a supply of green feed can be furnished. Where these conditions cannot be had it Is better for the beginner who is keeping only hens for eggs to kill the hens as soon as they have outlived their usefulness and replace them by well-matured pullets in the fall. If it is believed practicable to batch and rear a few chicks, this can best be done with hens. If it is desired to purchase and rear a few day-old chicks and no hens are available for the purpose, it is possible with little trouble and expense to construct a fireless brooder, which will serve in place of the hens. It would be well for the beginner to obtain from the Department of Agriculture or from State 'agriculture colleges, publications on hatching and rearing *