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Show EGG PRODUCERS WORK TOGETHER Co-operation Will Save $45,000,-000 $45,000,-000 Annual Loss From Care-, less Handling. IMPORTANCE OF EGG CIRCLES Associations Watch Crop and Strive to Prevent Carelessness and Undesirable Undesir-able Conditions Market Problems Prob-lems Overcome. If egg producers would work together to-gether to reduce egg losses, much of the $45,000,000 toll which results annually an-nually from careless handling could be eliminated. Egg circles, the name given to associations of egg producers, have been urged by the United States department de-partment of agriculture for a number of years. The work which these organizations or-ganizations can do now to save food is of the utmost importance. Egg circles watch the egg crop, not only in its handling but in ifs production. produc-tion. They strive to prevent the carelessness care-lessness which permits mongrel stock, dirty nests, stolen nests of broody hens, unconfined males, late-niaturing pullets, and other undesirable conditions condi-tions to exist on egg farms. Every effort ef-fort Is made to reduce the high percentage per-centage of small, cracked, dirty, stale, heated and rotten eggs. Many marketing mar-keting problems also are overcome. Early Chicks In Quantity. One very successful organization of egg producers has a large incubator house of 12,000 egg capacity where early chicks are produced for the members mem-bers at a low cost. This is done in order to obtain early maturing pullets thus securing eggs during the fall when eggs usually are scarce. The company also has a receiving room for eggs where they are candled, sorted to weight about 24 ounces to the dozen packed in cartons, and shipped on contract orders. Their eggs are all guaranteed guar-anteed to be according to grade, they advertise the fancy grades on their cartons and cases, and market prices are paid to the members. Twice a year dividends are paid each member in proportion to the amount of eggs marketed through the company and the time of year eggs were brought in, a larger dividend being paid per dozen for eggs brought in during the fall and winter than for those received during the spring and summer, estimated esti-mated by months. A regular trade is established with discriminating consumers, con-sumers, with city clubs, with the best class hotels and restaurants, and with fancy grocers for a supply each day or week. Eggs for Fancy Trade. The reputation that is established enables this association to fix Its prices at several cents a dozen above the regular market quotations, as fancy fan-cy trade Is willing to pay a premium for a guaranteed article. Most egg uircles buy chicken feed and other poultry supplies in quantities for their members. While at first the number of eggs to be marketed may not warrant a central station with a manager to Inspect, fraile and market the whole product, the aim should be to develop to that slate. Specialists of the department of agriculture will aid producers In organizing or-ganizing community egg circles and also In problems of production and marketing. In Farmers' Hulletin (toll suggestions and forms are offered as aids in organizing and managing such co-operative associations. Finding Turkey Nest. It requires some good (k'teclive work rit times, (liven free range, turkey liens usually hide their nests in obscure places such as patches cf weeds, tall grass, or bushy thickets. Often they wander a half mile or more from home before they lind places that suit them. I To find these stolen nests, as they ar- I usually called, is often a long and tedious task, the usual method being to follow each turkey hen as she separates sep-arates from the flock and turns toward her nest, taking care that she does not know she Is observed. But "shadowing" "shad-owing" the turkey hen is not always the best way. A much easier and quicker method, according to specialists special-ists of the United States department of agriculture, is to confine the hens-early hens-early some morning soon after they have come down from roost and let them out late In the afternoon. This forced delay causes the hens to head straight, for their nests in order to lay their eggs. Keep Brood Coops Clean. Clean the brood coop at least once-a once-a week and keep it free from mites.. If mites are found in the coop clean it thoroughly and spray with kerosena-or kerosena-or crude petroleum. From one to two inches of sand or dry dirt or a thin layer of straw or fine hay should he spread on the floor of the coop. Coops should be moved weekly to fresh, ground, preferably where there Is nevr grass. Shade Is very essential in rearing -chickens during warm weather ; therefore there-fore place the coops in shady spots whenever possible. A cornfield makes fine range for young chickens, as they can find many bugs and worms and have fresh ground to run on most of the time, due to the cultivation of the soil. Ahundant shade Is furnished at the same time. Need More Turkeys, Too. With but little additional outlay to-farmers, to-farmers, many more turkeys could be raised, poultry specialists of the United States department of agriculture say. The small number of turkeys per farm in the United 'States is surprising. According Ac-cording to the census of 1910, which is the latest that has been taken, only 13.7 per cent of the total number of farms reported any turkeys at all, and. on these farms an average of but slightly more than four breeding turkeys tur-keys was found per farm. Some farms by the nature of the crops grown on them or because of unfavorable surroundings sur-roundings are not adapted to turkey raising, but most farms are, and could easily handle a breeding flock of l0 to 15 hen turkeys and a torn, raising: from 75 to 150 turkeys each year at a good profit. Farmers' Bulletin 791, "Turkey Raising," describes the most successful methods of breeding, feeding, feed-ing, and management. It can be obtained ob-tained free upon application to the-United the-United States department of agriculture, agricul-ture, Washington, D. C. Prevent Egg Losses. 1. Selecting pure breeds that lay more and larger eggs, such as Whitif Leghorns, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, etc. 2. Giving better care, food, and shelter, with dry, clean, vermin-proof nests. X, Confining males except in breeding breed-ing season. 4. Collecting eggs frequently, especially espe-cially in hot or' muggy weather. 5. Storing eggs In a dry, clean, coot place. 0. Using small and dirty eggs at home. 7. Marketing frequently, with protection pro-tection at all times from heat. S. Selling for cash on a basis of size and quality, "loss off" instead of "ease count." ). Using an "a 1 1 ractl ve package. (). Combining shipments as a matter mat-ter of economy. Back-Yard Hennery. Make a hennery one of your answers to llunnery. A dozen or so hens In your back yard Little equipment needed. A hobby rather than a task. Interesting to that boy or girt. Feed consists largely of garluvgo, Insects, In-sects, waste, and weeds, ; Manufactured by Mrs. Hen into eKlf anil meat. |