The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-02
Uhs SiatturaI
Poultry Hints for May.


s LAYING hens, May will find many o.
the early layers (the Brahams) en-.
gagged in the pleasing task of incuba.
ton, or engaged with their younglings;
and now our care of them demands
particular attention.
As soon as the hens come off with
their broods, they should be confined,
for a day or two, in q moderately
warm room. The chicks should al
first be fed with crumbs of bread mois-
tened with milk or hard-boiled eggs
chopped fine. After the little chicks
have gained some strength, the moth
er hen and her little family may be
!. cooped and placed, if the weather be
fair, in dry, sunny situation. The
coop should be large and airy I; and
here a very large error prevails with
many In combining the hen and chick
ems In much too. cramped and narrow
quarters, to, the small inconvenience
of the mother, say. nothing about the
great danger of the chicks being killed
BY the tread of the hen. In nine
cases out OF. ten the coops are entirely
too contracted, low and uncomfortable
for the mother and her young. Just
draw a comparison between a hen and
her brood confined IN a small, low,
contacted room. hardly sufficient for
her to turn about, much less to care
fully brood her young, with a large,
airy apartment, well protected from
heat, wet or cold, and sufficient space
for exercise
In order to keep the chickens in
good health, SO confined, it is essen
otial that the greatest precautions
should be taken to ensure cleanliness
in all departments therefore the
coops should be cleaned out daily, and
the floor covered with sand or fine
gravel, to prevent any portion of filth
adhering to the floor. Fresh water,
in clean vessels shonld be placed be-
fore them morning and. afternoon. =
Impure, filthy water may be set down
as a main cause of all the diseases
poultry are subject to-diarrbea, gapes
. and other maIadies.
But do not let our good-natured
readers be frightened by the minute
ness of these directions, for as a later
season the chickens may be left much
more to themselves, only let them re-
member that if in possession of good
fowls, and they desire to have healthy
chickens at an early period of the
year, their chance of success will be
infinitely increated by following our
advice. ~
- Chickens hatcbed in the latter part
of May and June may be confined in
the coops only about two weeks, after
which they may be allowed their lib
erty, and they will thrive far better
than when confined either in courts or
= coops.
FEEDING.-Here lies the great err
rer. Suppose a dozen or so of per-
sons were to be fed by placing before
them half a dozen legs of mutton and
as many loaves of bread, from which
they were expected to eat as often as
they get hungry, they would shortly
tire of the o~ver-familiar viands, loose
nm petite, and become what breeders of
nm ity know as well as 'tout of con-
.5it;o, All poultry feeding which
of throwing down food of
~b;rb n e chickens can make a.hearty
- I'D leave a quantity to return to
80 80 ID. Irs afterwards, is bad and
So 60. or be made to restore lost
cand;t;on ~ administering tit-bits-
SS1J Ia,aeg racked corn and the
az IN he a bout as little advan-
.-so.s az II wcr Id be for the before
Observation-Disclosures OF stale mutton and
a--s.d,ta trv and resl ore the eaters ap-
rneiite with meals of turtle soup, jam,
shoney and cream
"a poultry "bin Of fare may be
made very lengthy. For standard
.dishes we have. corn, barley' DUCK
wheat. oats and boiled potatoes ; n
there are millet, sun-iower seeds,
crushed oats boiled, to var1y b diet,
~essecially for the young ; N for cas-
nal change we have boiled carrots,
Wheat,screanings, fresh meat, n any
item that presents itself.
Perhaps we cannot he...er illustrate
what we have said above than by Civ
ing particulars of the way in which a
stock Of chickens are managed. AS
o as after 6 O'Clock in the morning
as is compatible with the habits of the
: family in which very early rising is
not essential, the chickens should have
a meal of cracked corn. Indian meal
wet with water, generally used, should
not be given to very young chickens.
In all subsequent meals quite enough
should be given to satisfy hunger, but
there should be no overplus. We fan
cy we hear some reader exclaim, "Ohl
must we stay and see the chickens eat
their food to know that they are salts
fedf' To which we uahesitatingly
answer, Yesl But this need neces-
sarily entail no loss of time, as if
there are three or more lots all may
be fed simultaneously /; and if there is
only one, a feeder who wants to make
much of time can leave and return
-At nine A. N. the halfhegged chick
ems niaJ f,STo a meal OF barley, boiled
potatoes mashed with shorts or corn
meaL=AUaeriean Stock Journal.