The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-04
Management of Poultry.


1t is not necessary to repeat what has
been so frequently said by modern
writers on poultry, that cleanliness,
good lodgings, pure water, liberal feed
ing and good ranges, are important ele-
ments OF success; and we may here add
that poultry thrives best when only a
moderate number, say % or SO, occupy
the same runs. Presuming that anna
tours have mated their breeding fowls,
and supplied them with secure lodg-
ings, dust baths, water fountains, feed
boxes, ETC., few suggestions may be
appropriate in
REARING AND MANAGEMENT.
Eggs hatch best when the nests are
on the ground, and hens sit most faith
fully at this season when located in
dark places, secure from intrusion. II
the Matching house is isolated from the
laying and roosting apartments, and the
sitting hens only have access Ia the
yards, they require no extra care, and
will generally bring out from 20 to 80
per cent. of their clutches. When the
| chickens are "A hours old, they should
be removed from the nest and with the
|
they require food, and until this age it
is in our opinion great objection to
their future growth to feed. Dat meal
mixed with corn meal for the first two
or three days, and small portion Of
eggs, is decidedly the best food; and
until they are ten days or two weeks
old, this food, with sweet milk, shows
rapid progress. Boiled rice and mush,
and small cracked corn, whole wheat
and oats, will constitute their best food,
especially when confined with the hen.
Keep them we'll supplied with fresh
water and free from vermin. When
the object is to raise very large birds, it
is necessary to feed literally on stimu-
lating food, and to separate the males
and females when ten weeks Md. This
separation causes the males to grow to
an extra size. The females also grow
larger, do not lay so young, and when
turned into the breeding yards at 10 OF
II months of age, prove more valuable
as breeders of fine birds.
DISEASES OF POULTRY.
Most of the diseases known in poul
try yards may be prevented by rigid
cleanliness, sound, nutritious food
pure water, and warm, dry, well ven
tilated lodgings. Roup, gapes, catarrh
and canker mouth, are generally the
fruits Of dampness, imperfect ventila
ton, filth, unsound food, foul water and
bad lodgings.
Roup is quickest cured by bringing
the sufferer to the guillotine, and com
hitting the defunct carcass to the grave
Many remedies have been published tol
the cure of this loathsome disease, yet
: one suggested above is the quickest and
best, inasmuch as the fowl is ever after
worthless to breed from. Lime, carbo
lie acid, or some other disinfectant
should be freely used, and the remain
ing fowls be well fed on stimulating
food for at least ten days.
Gapes will usually yield to any of the
remedies applied to Group in children
, Catarrh may be cured 10y saturat;ng the
throat externally with spirits Of turpen
, tine, and giving the sick bird q few
. drops internally. Preventives are bet
ter than remedies, and should be
freely used. Iron and red pepper
, are admirable stimulants for delicate
, chicks. A few drops of camphor in the
NdlcI tIOuSu, anu a. llllIC pltlNci 4LSN
: alum in their morning repast, will
: prevent diarrhea. When cholera make.
its appearance, dose Of castor oil iii
the patient is put in hospital, and fec
on stiff mush in which red pepper ano
chalk are mixed, will usually cure
provided the bird is given very little
: water and no green food.
A mere outline in management i:
given above. With poultry, proper at
tention is essential to success. Every
breeder can improve his birds by having
an object in view, and breeding to it
If he wants mammoth fowls, he is only
to select his largest and best to breec
from. If he wishes particular feather
let him breed to it and he will succeed
: Patience and system will effect much
Want Of system and proper care viii
lead to trouble and loss. No sloven car
breed fine stock and preserve its health
and beauty.-Cor Country Gentleman.