The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-03
important Questions About
Chickens AID Eggs.

At the meeting of the Lancaster
| County Poultry Association. held hast
| Monday in Lancaster. four subjects were
! discussed. vix: Chicken cholera
What must hens have TO produce
eggs ''The best barn-yard fowl, and
Chickens and sunlight.
1t was stated BY Mr.. Charles f,
Long, that there were many different
remedies for this disease. Soft soap,
hard soap, horse and cattle powders:
sulphate Of iron and sulphate Of copper
are given. but he knew Of nothing that
was absolutely certain a. u cure. He
believed that the prime cause OF the
disease was crowding the fowls together,
and one Of the best remedies, III his be
lief. was TO give the fowls more room
and use d~i9intectants literally.
Mr. III. IL. Tohudy had observed that
the disease was most fatal III its effect
among the Asiatic breeds. and when it
appeared among them, the best and
only thing to do was to cut their heads
off. He had observed that keeping the
chicken house clean le>sened the dis
ease.
Mr.. S. \. Warfel, stated that be had
used carbolic acid 50 literally that lie
never had a case of cholera III his coops.
He had also discovered that calomel and
castor oil were sure cure for the disease,
and he had also used considerable guam
titles of chalk and powdered bone about
his coops.
Concerning the next question What
mast hens have that they ma produce
eggs?' ID. G. Tobias, said he would adj
wise great care in the preparation Of the
houses in which the hens are contiuel
He said that unless they were warm and
dry. it would matter little what was fed
to them. The main food for hens. is
corn and oats, and also that green food
should be supplied. He said the best
soft food was bran, well prepared. The
Eureka Poultry Food and the Eureka
Egg Food are highly recommended.
Ar. rs. Nariel stated that he had
found by experiments. that chalk
pounded into small pieces, was eaten
with a relish BY the hens, which would
eat it when they would not touch lime,
and he thought it had the desired effect.
From it his fowls laid all winter. Burnt
corn and eyster shells We're comm
dcd DIS good, and red pepper was adj
yi,od a. a good thing to put III their
drinking water. 6
The next question: What Is the
best barn-yard towl?' Was answered
by Mr. Ii. II. Tshudy, whosaid: ifthe
first requisite IN the iarnl-yard is the
production o e.gs, he had no hcsita-
ton III recommending the Leghorn va
riety; that Is, ii the farmer takes care OF
his chickens. But on the other hand,
the production Of eggs is not everything
The farmer wants a chicken that is
worth something In the market. He
thought the best chicken was the Ply
mouth Rock, good layers, good lIatchers,
etc. IT only one breed could be raised
he would choose it.
Mr.. John e. Linyille expressed a
preference t0r the Plymouth Rocks, and
did not like Leghorns, as they deS-
troyed gardens, and their egg were too
small.
Charles 7. Long thought the ques-
ton was: Viii a farmer make more
by keeping hens and selling their eggs,
or killing them tormarket? He thought
the former plan was the most profitable, |
and the Leghorns were the bae. in that
respect. The Brahmas are the best
winter layers.
j. 3. Litchy had received more eggs
from four Brahnfas during the winter
than from seven Brown Leghorns.
The ext question. viii chickens
DO we'll Oh board floors, without sun
light" Was answered BY John f
Reed, who said his experience was that
chickens would not 10 well IN any place
without sunlight. His first coop was
in>utliciently lighted. and his chickens
cot sick, but his. second COOP WA well
lighted, and the result was highly salts
1t was stated that one gentle
nan raises his fowls m the ccller. and
oft the first prize at shows. This
contends that RAISING them
II the cellar improves their color, and
has the prettiost chickens in the
show room. II was thought that board
doors without sunlight, were the very
worst things upon which chickens could
put.
\ LITTLE MORE CORN.-Nounc
ariner wishes to know what he can
}roftably raise OH his farm in these