Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1880-09-30
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RICH FOOD FOR FOWLS.

RICH FOOD FOR FOWLS.
As an ornament to the garden or flower
bed, the sllntower has been long held in
dsrepute Where it has been once allowed |
a toothold. it is hardy and persistent. There
is !: difference in the effect prodrced on |
fowls fed upon the various seeds or kernels. !
Cora, while at the same time containing
The greatest amount OF stimulation to
strength and life. is heating and fattening,
and should be fed with care and discretion.
II the sole idea is to produce fat, either to
tit the fowl tor the block, Of the bullock for
the shambles, then feed largely and i'll as
great quantities as can be thoroughly con-
sumed without Cloying the appetite. Ii
tattrning fowls | have found it better to
give some appetizing food when in contine-
men., that u relish thereby may be created
Tor their oily ailment. Food that is taken
with a relish tells with better effect than
when consumed merely to sustain life.
Corn in small quantities is Wholesome:
indeed there is not much danger in warm
weather; when the fowls are at large III al
lowing them all the corn they will consume.
| The Asiatics, however, are an exception !;
they should he fed sparngly, or their feed
alternated and mixed with other grains
Most breeds Of fowls are more active, work
| ing off the indolent effect Of gross feeding
by a general reund Of gathering plant and
insect material, which offsets the deleteri-
ons effect Of the heavy diet, and keeps the
system in health and good working order,
without which great results may not re;l-
sonably be looked for. The greatest guam
tity OF feed produces the greatett amount
Of flesh or eggs. This effect varies greatly
with the breed upon which the feed is OK,
pended. II Leghorns, Dorllings OF Holt
dams, q quantity Of eggs may be expected
as a result of generous feeding. The Dork-
ings, although large, heavy-hodied fowls.
are great layers they do not lay as large
All egg as The Houdan, but their eggs, like
those of most OF the sitting varieties. pos
ses good strong shells. | have often had
occasion to notice that the eggs non-stting
breeds are not always encased in strong
shells. The rapid laying, perhaps, may be
one reason for this, and the size of the eggs
another.
The HoudAns are an admirable and much
to be desired breed, not only for eggs (al
though they are prolific Of large, fine, rlci
oneS) but they are seldom oclipsed tor the
quality and quantity OF the hesh. Attel
such breeds have once been obtained it Ii
quite a matter to know how to care tol
them. Care is generally summed up in tlle
amounG OF feeding and giving proper quar-
ters. In the winter many fine birds art
ruined when the fowls are Shut off from &C
cess TO the open earth. Corn is heavy iood
and heavy feed iattens the fowl. iniures the
internal orsans (nO matter OF what breed)
and creates a morbid, unstable appetite
which 100 trequently finds exercise in fealh
creating. There may not much difficulty
accrue tharttrom il the hens be good layers
They work OIL the excess of fat. In the op
poste case there is danger. When ths
warm days begin to come ON toward spring
the fowls droep, sicken, aud often, as tht
season advances, die by the dozens. In tht
spring the result of the previous seasons
food shows on the health and strength o.
, the tiOc<s. The seeds Of the suntloWel
possess. when cured, an oily matter, ricl
and nutritious, somewhat similar in etiee
to liuserd or cotton seed. The plants ,.ol
good soil frequently gro" ten feet high
and form numerous heads These may b.
cut and fed Immediately 10 the fowls, 0
harvested for winter use. One single hea'
} will yield "a pint Of seed. ilIe yield is large
The seeds c beneficial Ut noultIu9 time
I Cor. Country Gentleman.