Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-24
To Make Pouiigy Pay.
WINTER TREATMENT.
HENRY H.ALEs.

WINTER TREATMENT.
For hens to lay in winter. it IS noceS-
sary that they should be supplied with
all the requirements of fool. egg'shell
matter. cleanliness and care, to keep
them in high state of health and con
ditlon. Good feeding is all that IS re-
ouired by nature for egg producing
This substance is better supplied by
giving them sound sweet food literally
than by any artificial condiment or pre-
marathon sold for the purpose. The
high price Of such preparations how
ever good they may be, puts them De
vond reach Of the farmer to get a pro-
6table return for the outlay. \ triiie
invested in few simple things such
as pepper, pulverized charcoal sulphur
aud cayenne, answers all the purposes
Of keeping tho birds in health. Even
these should be used sparinsly once or
twice a week. When fowl is found 10
be ailing, It must be separated from the
Others and treated with proper medi-
ciaes for the disease. Such are no"
pretty we'll understood by practical
breeders and poultry keepers.
Some years ago, hardly anything
could be done for a sick fowl; but care
and patience have found antidotes even
for the most stubborn diseases which,
If taken before the BIRD sinks TOO low
will generally effect a cure. y far
mer. however, cannot afford to spend
much time or a hen. though valuable
fowls are worth the trouble. Yet, when
he finds any appearance OF disease III
his fork. he must make an effort TO
stop ii at once, and not, as many VIII
insist upon, leave them 10 their tate
In most cases, the spread Of disease Is
easily prevented, iftaken in time After
renewing the diseased ones, a little
SULPHUR and cayenne mixed in their
soft food 4 teaspoonful Of sulphur aud
halt as much Of cayenne to four quarts
of food given for two or three days VIII
generally arrest an ordinary trouble.
The sulphur should be stopped but the
CAYENNE may be continued to be gwen
as the birds recover. Indeed, 1t may
be gwen to advantage once or twice a
week all through the winter. Iron IS q
great tonic for ailing fowls, when first
noticed to be ont Of condition. 1t Is
generally used in a simple preparation
known as Douglas Mixture" 1t Is
sulphate Of iron. Common ccppclas
cisht ounces, and sulphuric acid one
halt fluid ouRcc. Those. put il bottle
with a gallon ofsoft or rain-watcr, are
ready for use as soon as the igsn dissol-
v4d. All keepers of poultry should
have this and other medicines on hand
before any sickness Is discovered, so
that no delay occurs when prompincs'
IS required. Or special diseases l shall
treat hereafter. have in former arti-
Giles spoken Of disiuiocting the house
and the necessity for the dust-baih,
and of supply Of bone and oyster
shell.
The food should consist more of other
grains than Of corn. Although all
kinds of poultry seem to prefer corn to
other grain. yet corn has been proved
by a great many pOultry-men to be III
ferier as an egg producer to wheat bar
lev, &c., and occasionally to buckwheat
and oats. Corn may be given sparlng-
ly with advantage, but corn alone
makes hens too fat and lazy. 50 fed
they lack animation and yigOr, especia-
" the ASauc breeds, which are more
prone than other strains to this lAtncss
that seems to border on disease. Their
intestines become encased il one mass
Of fat. and TO stint fowls to any given
quantity Of food especially when comm
ed, is quite impracticable. Soft food
given once a day in winter, IS very
beneficial. particularly during spells OF
severe weather. 1t promotes laying.
It should consist OF ground grain, a.
cor bgo wheat, barley, wheat or oat-
meal, varied at times, with some vege-
table and animal food. l make up nine
by boiling a lot Of potatoes or turuips.
pouring the hot water in which they
were boiled upon some meal in auoth-
or vessel With ground beef scraps added
twice a week aud 4 little cayenne.
Make this INTO a stiff paste. Mash the
vegetables aud add meal enough to
make this ais into q stiff mass. Mix
them Together and iced when just
warm. Most breeders recommend this
10 be done tor their morning meal. bat
this will often keep the stock waiting
hungry too long. Have light gram for
them always, early every morning. and
feed with the soft fool by noon ii rot
sooner, and all the gram they viii cat
fJr evening meal.
~ If these directions. with former ones
in the Rural, DO hot make poultry pay.
the fault Hes in some other cause.
Hilhs,