The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-11-01
Farmers Care Of Fowls.

There is probably no other interest
on the farm SO generally neglected as
that Of poultry. IL IS a common phrase
among farmers that "chickens can
scratch for living" and this comprises
about all the care they receive. Sum
mer or Winter, rain or sunshine, cold or
warm, in all kinds of weather, they are
left TO take care of themselves, gaining
precarious living, roostng on trees,
fences and managers or racks in the sta
bio; they are merely suffered as nui-
sance, rather than cared for as they
should be. La our cold Winter months,
for want of proper shelter, combs and
wattles are frozen, aud feet are often lost
from the effects of the extreme cold. II
we were TO accuse our farmer friends of
cruelty, they would open their eyes in
innocent surprise. But is it not down
right cruelty to allow your fowls to 60
through our long cold Winters without
proper care and shelter How much
DO the poor birds suffer before they lose
their CORDS, wattles and feet! The
trouble is not that they are Intentional
ly guilty. But the old "scratch for
themselves" adage has been so long
and persistentIy taught that men believe
in il and act accordingly. The care OF
the 70 wis 10 a thing never thought OF,
and the idea of providing comfortable
quarters for them is unheard of. Then
we hear the complaint, owe get no
eggs." "Here are one hundred hens
eating moro than they are worth, and
we do not get eggs enough to keep US
going at the house" This may be ali
true, but think for moment Of the care
you have given Thorn. They are simply
paying you in your own coin, and oven
then are no doubt doing better by far
than you have done by them.
Perhaps fowls in the farrnyard suffer
more for want of pure water In Winter
than from any other cause. In the
Summer they usually get plenty and do
we'll enough, but in our cold climate,
when springs and brooks are frozen
solid, when tanks and swiil pals are no
longer available, then their daily allow
ance is entirely cut of, and often for
weeks, and even months, they do not
get drop Of water. They eat snow
when it is 10 be had, and they could DO
nothing worse, for this has the singular
quality o. making them poor, and they
should never be allowed 10 eat IT, If
they are supplied with water they vail
not eat snow This treatment with
very little variation and few excep.
tons, ia the rule among farmers. The
result is that millions OF fowls die annu.
ally of that scoHrge poultry--tbe chol
era. Years ago the cholera wss dread
ed as most fearful plague among the
human family. Towns and cities we're
devastated by its ravages; but OF late
years, by cleaning ont the cesspools of
filth in the cities, and by the proper
measures, it has lost its terrors.
Here lies the great remedy for chick.
ell cholera-cleauiiness and proper care.
This will do more TO rid the country Of
this plague than all tho patent nostrums
in existence. With very little outlay
of money and time you can build good,
comfortable house tor your fowls. Let
it iace the south. with windows to give
light aud warmth when the sun shines.
Spend an hour each day in feeding,
watering ana caring for your fowls.
Remove all the droppings every day or
two, preserving them carefully ia heap;
your American guano will repay you
tor oil the care and feed you give your
fowls. Keep your house clean and well
ventilated, and you will havo plentiful
supply of eggs in Winter as we'll as in
Summer, and the timo that you spend in
the care of your fowls will pay you a !
larger per cent. than any time you spond
on the tarm.-Poultry Rovie~.