The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-05-28
Feeding Fowls.

The best standard soft food is ground
oats, if procurabls barley meal will max e
an excellent food aud if mixed occasion
ally with potatoes we'll washed, turnips,
beet, or nangold wurzel, so much the
better; this food should be given only in
the morning, and then warm, especially
in the winter season. Buckwheat as a
grain is excellent food, and when fowls
get accustomed to it eat it readily so is
good barley and oats peas, beans and In
dian corn may also be supplied but, as
already mentioned, to supply only such
wastes of the body as these materials are
capable Of Spiced food is frequently re
commended by poultry writer's; some
advocate the giving of raw onions at least
two or three times week, with good
supply of cayenne pepper in their food !;
others advocate the use of different con
diments, all of which are largely made up
of stimulants of various kinds. There is
no doubt all kinds of spiced food materi
ally tend to hasten maturity, whether it
be to the chicken, the puilet, or the hen
that they are supplied. Chickens when
thus fed when young will attain to larger
size and lay earlier, commencing at about
four months old, aud hens will be stimu
lated to winter and early spring laying,
but breeders will do well to bear in mind
that the continuance of stimulating fowls
beyond a reasonable time will result preju-
diciousiy to both old and and young
fowls. 1t cannot be denied, however, that
when judiciously aud moderately given,
nsed at certain times only, such food is
highly beneficial. IF given to chickens
when fedging, it greatly assists in this,
to them, exhausting process and when
given to dropping fowls has marked effect,
quickly restoring them to their former
healthy condition. 1t is good thing,
too, to give stimulating food to old fowls
in cold or wet weather, aud when molting,
and to hens that do not lay in time in
early spring but in any case when the
desired effect is produced spiced food
should be discontinued, and the usual
plain food be again restored. In old
birds, if given too frequently or continued
beyond the time already mentioned, it
produces diseased organs and in pulets
stunted growth. In the care of chickens
of all the larger breeds, the longer ma
turity can be postponed the larger the
birds are likely to be, and, no matter
what may be said to the contrary, the
same feeding which produces forcs and
rapid growth during the very early period
of chickenhood will of necessity, if con-
tinued beyond this, result in stuuted be
cause precocious adults-large size and
early maturity cannot be had in the same
brd-they are Incompatible. For maDy
purposes then it is we'll to have stimuat-
ing food always on hand or the means by
which it may be prepared at moments
notice. The following condiment mixed
with oatmeal will be found highly bene
fetal: Take of ground alIspice two ounces;
ground black pepper two onunces; ground
ginger half pound, and brown sugar one
pound mix together aud add to usual
food in sufficient quantity to cause
slightly sweet and hot taste. When pre-
pared it should be kept in well corked
bottle, ready for use when required
Canada Farmer.