The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-24
AGRICULTURAL.
Poultry Notes.

German students and experimenters ex-
hibit greater patience, attention to details
and perseverance in overcoming obstacles,
than those of any other nation, hence the
world is indebted to them for many discover
les in the various branches of farm economy.
recent paper by German scientist, entitled
"Hints on Matching eggs and rearing
Chickens" contains much to interest and in
struct the poultry breeders of this country.
A proper selection of eggs for setting is the
first point to be attended to in raising poul-
try. To get good, strong birds, eggs from a
two-year-old hen by one-year-od male bird
chickens than eggs from very young hen by
an older male. The eggs should be regular
In shape, and the largest should be chosen,
except of course, when double yolk is sus-
pected. In dwarf breeds, where the object is
TO get as small bird as possible, the smaller
the eggs the better. The notion that pointed
eggs always yield male birds is incorrect; this
is,only the case when they are from hen
that usually lays round ones. while similarly
round eggs from hen that usually lays
pointed ones generally yield female birds.
When, however, a hen always lays eggs OF
one shape, whether pointed or round, the
young birds will be of both sexes.
The setting place should be well ventilat-
ed, neither too cool nor too hot, and should
be ina subdued light, and away from all noise.
The best time for setting, hens, ii the broodS
are to be raised in the open air, is from the
first of April to the middle of July. Each
hen must have her own setting box, covered
in with wire-work, the floor should be strew-
ed with sand, nest OF straw with an inner
lining of hay placed in one corner, q pan Of
water in another, and a trough of food in a
third. The water must be renewed every
morning, but food enough for several days
can be deposited at once. If the hen befouls
the nest or the eggs, it or they must be car
fully cleaned. No setting box should be used
more than once a year; if one hen after anoth-
er is allowed to occupy it, especially in warm
weather, it is sure to get lousy. and unless the
vermin be at once detected, it will fair i'll
with both hen and eggs.
Eggs that do not hatch out at the right
date should be allowed to remain under the
hen for few days, for it may be that they
are somewhat older than the rest, or have
not been so well covered by her. At the END
of that time the "water proof may be ap
piled. This consists in placing the eggs in
warm water, when those that float on the
surface may be known to contain live chick
ems. Very often, if the water is a little
warmer than the natural heat of the hen,
the chicks in the eggs will cry out when
placed in it, while in such cases, it is general.
ly weakness only that has prevented theil
earlier escaping their prison walls. The
chickens should be taken from them as soon
as they hatch out, and as soon as they are
dry, for otherwise they disturb her and she
Is apt to abandon the remaining eggs, which
are consequently lost. As the chicks are re.
moved they should be put in warm place, in
basket or box containing some soft mater.
ial, and covered over with wooden cloth.
As regards the young chicke. the great
point is to take care that, until they are al
least six weeks old, they are kept in uni
form warm temperature of about 500 F.
When they are older they may gradually be-
come accustomed to every variation of wealth
er, so as to get strong, hardy race, that in
their turn will produce vigorous offspring
The best food of all for the first few days is
hard-boled eggs, chopped up fine. But this
system must not be continued too long, les
their natural appetite should be deprived. II
few days time they may have millet (ol
some similar food) soaked in milk. This
must not be pasty or doughty, but in goot
sized Jumps that crumble down readily undel
the finger and thumb. Along with this they
should have a little fine chopped meal
every other day. When four weeks old they
may be fed sopped wheat, which strengthens
them wonderfully, and makes them grow and
lay on flesh fast. This may be varied with
potatoes and wheat bread soaked in milk.
One point of great importance in feeding
young fowls should never be lost sight Of
They must be fed often, but never have more
at time than they can take with appetite
since no creature is more dainty than the
fowl Once give them too much food at 9
time, so that they leave some of it uneaten
and they will rarely partake Of it again, I'M
less actually driven by hunger, and then only
just enough to prevent starvation. Dorkings
it is said, will literally die rather than touch
food to which they have taken a dislike
Plenty of exercise in the open air is a good
confined space poultry breeding yields excel.
lent results, if conducted with care, zeal and
intellipence