The Portland daily press., 1879-06-18
AGRICULTURAL.
,Pernicious Habits in Fowls.

Fowls that are confined for the most part
of the year acquire habits which are entirely
foreign to them in their natural state They
are in an abnormal condition. In the days
of our forefathers, before a house for the
hens was ever thought of, when the small
flock OF neglected birds lodged in the tree
tops, no one ever heard of such thing as
hens eating feathers flor it is mostly confined
to the hens), or case of the roup or canker.
Fowls died to be sure, occasionally, but the
case was seldom or never inquired after
They were often left to old age and still
more frequently were the focks decimated
during the fall and winter season by poultry
thieves. Our grandmothers laid in store
of eggs for the winter season, generally pack
ing them down in dry salt, and only called
into use upon extraordinary occasions. such
as wedding or grand party. Fresh laid
eggs in winter were unheard of in those days,
and considered an impossibility, and now it
Is not that we have so much better breeds,
but because they are better cared for, that
they make better returns.
1t is necessary with hens to lay eggs. They
are thus formed by nature, and the few that
do not perform the function are the excep-
ton, not the rule. When well kept, with
warm, dry buildings to roost in, and sunny
runs, they supply the family table, and assist
greatly in keeping down the grocery bill. A
the birds must be kept in close confinement,
and it is during this period, if the greatest
care be not exercised, that the fowls acquire
their bad habits. The enormous drain of
egg production creates an immense appetite,
not only for stimulating food, but for green's
and bulky substances, also animal diet. 1t
is then they learn to pluck feathers. Fowls
once settled down into this habit, persist in
the vile practice even after the warm wealth
er, and when grass is plentiful There are
generally one or two birds that are worse
than the others. Ifthesefew could be weeded
out and separated from the main flock, and
confined singly in coops, and well fed, they
might forget it for season, but if not vaua-
BILE as egg producers, or for breeding, it is
better to send them to the block at once. 1t
Is more advisable to behead one or two than
have the beauty of the whole flock destroyed.
Another bad habit acquired in confinement
is that of breaking and eating eggs. This
also is contracted from being left too much
to themselves. Eggs should always be
hunted twice or three times each day, espec-
tally in cold weather, to avoid the frost.
The journeys for the eggs need not always
be fruitless, but so managed as to carry
grist each way. "The dog that fetehes a
bone will always carry bone" Hens re-
quire their food fresh and often, as well as
drink. 1t is useless to think of throwing in
quantity of feed, deemed sufficient for a
day or two, and never going near them again
until either supply or demand for eggs is
ready. They will never thrive in this man.
ner. They must be active and dligent, and
looking for their rations. 1t must be ones
business in cold weather to take care of the
hens and the eggs, where many are kept in
order that the profit may be obtained Neg
lected fowls fall into bad ways. We are apt
to be careless and without thought concern
ing poultry confined from the outside atmos-
phere in cold weather. When there come
mild days, the fowls are turned out and ex-
posed to cold and wind, unaccustomed in their
quarters. Roup and coughs are contracted,
which they seldom get over. Our Judgment
does not serve us right on the occasion. Any
sudden change is pretty sure to stop them
from laying.
Hens that are kept for the purpose of pro-
tucing market eggs alone, should not have
the company of the cocks, since it is the
males plumage they first learn to pluck.
Sometimes it comes from the lack of better
business at first. To avoid this, keep them
well supplied with green food, or its equiva-
lent 1t is as necessary as grain. Also al
low them some half-picked bones to work at
They furnish employment at the same time
while giving small portion of meat. Fresh
earth forms great attraction for fowls, not
only for the sake of the insects which they
dig out, but they love to scratch. 1t is as
natural to the barnyard fowl as for the duck
to seek and play i'll the water, and it is highly
necessary to provide busting places for them.
1t seems the same thing as the bath to the
aquatic bird. Fowls may be confined with
benefit at all seasons of the year if properly
cared for, and provided with the necessaries
and luxuries which they crave and demand