Builds a Paying
Poultry Business
West Raleigh, N.C.—By carefully culling her flock of all
boarder hens, or non producers, and buying high-priced pure-bred breeds, Mrs.
W.I. Strickland proprietor of Orpington Farm at Katesville in Franklin County
has succeeded in building up a valuable poultry business.
As reported by Mr. A.G. Oliver, Extension Poultry
Specialist, Mrs. Strickland began her work in the spring of 1910 with only two
pure-bred hens and one cockerel. From these were raised $6 chicks during the
first year. In November the flock was culled to 20 hens and two cockerels. Two additional
cockerels were purchased early in 1911 for $25, which were used to further
strengthen the old 1910 flock.
In 1911, a pen of five strong, vigorous birds was purchased
for $75, and to this pen was added six of the best hens, making what Mrs.
Strickland designated as pen No. 1. From these she sold a large number of eggs
at $4 per sitting, and later in October sent exhibit to the State Fair, taking
many premiums and four blue ribbons for the best pullets in the show.
So encouraging were the results of the 1912 work that in
1913 she decided to further improve the flock by buying a cockerel for which
she paid $100. With this bird and the four blue ribbon pullets of the previous
year and six of her best hens, Mrs. Strickland made up pen No. 2, with which
she again took several premiums at the State Fair.
In all, during 1912, 1913, and 1914, $2,200 worth of birds
and eggs were sold from Orpington Farm. Good results were secured because these
pure-bred hens were often laying when their chicks were only three weeks old,
though they still took care of the young.
Aggressive work with the different pens was suspended in
February, 1915, because of Mrs. Strickland’s being afflicted with blindness and
being unable to give the flock good attention. However, new blood was
introduced each yea r and in the spring of 1919, when her sight was partially
restored, Mrs. Strickland took up her work again, having on hand a fine bunch
of birds led by two blue ribbon winners with 35 hens. During January, February,
and March of this year, while most chickens were doing practically nothing,
this flock hatched out 138 little chicks and produced enough eggs to permit of
45 dozen being sold for food, besides a good number for sitting. At the same
time the family had ?? for table use.
In Mrs. Strickland’s opinion, the White Orpington is white
in name and nature, being good layers, careful sitters, and attentive mothers.
During the winter months there is always a pitiful few for eggs, she states, and
leads in heavy winter laying when eggs are bring their highest market price.
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