Sharp County record., 1880-03-25
FARM TOPICS.
NV Success in Raising Chickens.

1 have been raising thoroughbred
poultry for several years, and | think it
is a very appropriate business for any
woman of delicate health, like myself.
The business is both pleasurable and
profitable. / have the Light Brahmas
and Partridge Cochins, and also the
pure White Bantams. My Brahmas
and Cochins are very nice and large.
1 got my Partridge Cochins from a
breeder in New jersey, and the Light
Brahmas, part from Ohio and a part
from this State Qndiana). Of course
they cost considerable, but we can not
get pure fowl stock for a mere song. |
have two pens of Light Brahmas and
one of Partridge Cochins, so as to have
the eggs pure for setting, and also to
sell. Last spring / sold eggs at one
dollar per setting of thirteen, and the
other day sold thorough bred rooster
for one doller. At these rates | think
the business pays quite well. The way
/ do is to save my eggs very carefully,
and each kind separately, and keep
them where they will not get chilled in
the cold nights of spring. For nests | use
soap-boxes, or boxes about that size.
l put them in convenient, cool places, a
little up from the ground, though
not too high. sprinkle Stacked lime
in the bottom of each nest, and, after
the weather is warm enough, | place
ground in the bottom also. Then for the
nest-place 1 put well-mashed straw or
hay in the box, sprinkling sulphur over
the same. | find that a nest attended
to in this way will not be bothered with
lice. Biddy will not be inclined to leave
such a nest before her brood is Matched,
as is often the case when such precau-
tions are neglected. When the brood is
Matched thoroughly cleanse the box by
burning the old straw in it; and then |
renew with lime and fresh nest material.
The box is now ready for the next time.
| never sit hen until she remains on
the nest after her mates have gone to
roost; and then know she is in earn
est and means business. And it is quite
an item to know this when one has val
liable eggs to sit that cost a dollar or
two. When l have hen sitting l al
ways close up the box so that there will
be no trouble with other hens laying in
the nest. | also generally mark the
eggs which / put under the sitting hen,
SO if hen should happen to get box
open and deposit stray egg, l will no.
tice it and take it out. | always select
the time when the chickens outside
have gone to roost to feed my sitting
hens. And those that will not come off
by themselves l lift off carefully. |
then see if the eggs are all right and the
nests in right condition. When take
a hen off with brood of young chick
ems, | take little lard and mix it with
little sulphur and coal oil, and grease
the old mother hen on the mead, unGer
the wings, and wherever the lice are
likely to be found. grease the little
chicks, with pure lard only, the first
time; on the head and under the wings
using it sparingly, and then | give them
a coop in a dry, sunny place. And if
fed right and kept dry they will do well.
Never feed with sloppy, mushy stuff,
unless you want them to sicken and die
l thoroughly scald the meal and mix it
moderately thick and dry. | usually
feed the meal warm. A great deal of