Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1919 — FARM POUITRY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM POUITRY

EARLY HATCHING IS FAVORED Poultryman Enabled to Get Chick* Started Before Hot WeatherRapid Gains Insured. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) In order to have eggs when eggs are scarce begin operations in early spring to plan for early-hatched chicks. Early batching the poultryman to get ‘his chicks started before hot weather, which retards their growth and which, with the presence of lice, causes millions of late-hatched chicks to die each year. Pullets batched early produce eggs in the fall when

hens are molting. Early-hatched cockerels bring the best prices and early layers will brood early the following spring. Contrary to general belief chicks do not grow or thrive as well during warm months or hot summer days as they do earlier In the spring. Chicks hatched early are stronger, thrive better and have the advantage of a longer growing season. Early hatching not only Insures more rapid gains In the growth of chicks but has a favorable influence on the size of the individuals of the flock. Late-hatched chicks rarely If ever attain the size of- thosp hatched early. Given the same feed, care and attention, chicks hatched in March and April will weigh more when they are four months old than those hatched In May and June. The early-hatched chick, having the advantage of a more favorable growing season, makes greater gains during the first four months of its life thar> the latehatched chick. During the early spring months when the temperature is not so varied the growth of chicks is more uniform and constant than it is during the summer. If for no other reason chicks should be hatched early so their growth will not be Interrupted by the presence of lice, which are touch more plentiful and destructive in hot weather than In the cooler days of spring. Many farmers and poultrymen realize considerable money each spring from the sale of broilers, the price of which is usually governed by their size when sold and the time marketed. Thus it would seem that in order to Increase the amount of money from the sale of broilers and fryers early hatching would be employed so as to have a marketable-sized fowl early In the spring when prices are highest.

Early-Hatched Pullet—Mature and Laying on September 26.