Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-02-18


February is a good month to set hens for
early chickens. Where these are wanted,
see that every hen that wants to sit is
gratified,
Eggs intended for Matching should be
promptly gathered two or three times
day. 1t is not known how much chilling
an egg will bear and still retain the life of
the embryo But it is not safe nor de-
sirable to takeany unnecessary risks in the
matter.
The best place to keep eggs intended
for Matching is to wrap them in paper
and put them down cellar in covered
box or basket. have known cggs to
hatch after being kept this way for four
weeks before being set If they have to
be kept some time it is best to turn them
once every day or every other day. But
set the eggs rs soon as hen can be had
to take them.
Some people make the mistake Of civ
ing the broods Matched by two or more
hens ut once to single hen to nurse. If
each hen has Matched but one or two
chicks, then, of course, it is right and
proper to give them all to one hen. But
if each hen has Matched ) or chicks she
should be allowed to rear them. The
number is nearly or quite enough for a
small or mcdum-sized hen 1T this time of
year.
If you want your chicks to grow fast
feed them on oatmeal scalded with sweet
or sour milk. Don't make the feed wet
or sloppy, nor give more at once than
will be eaten up. Only prepare as much
at once as will be all eaten before any
fermentation takes place in it. Where
oatmeal cannot be had fine cornmcal or
cracked wheat similarly treated and adj
mlnistered will answer a very good pur-
pose.
We could name very successful pOul-
try man who feeds his young broods at
this time of year on bread Wetted with
milk that has been scaldcl This is cX-
cellent feed for the chicks, and when one
can get the bread baked there is none
better Stale bread is as good as, or
better than fresh, and enough may be
baked at once to last for week For
chicken feed Graham bread is better than
ordinary bread, and is cheaper
One cannot do better thing than to
make few small feeding coops for the
little chickens, such as they can 90 into
and eat without interference from their
dams Or other adult fowls Two or three
hens may be coopcd close together and
then one feeding coop will answer for the
whole colony. Such an appliance saves
feed instead of being eaten up bv the
old mother hens or other big birds The
chicks get it, and get it without being
abused and run over by the larger ones.
Every one does not know how "a
make a nest for 4 hen to hatch in during
cold weather First it shoald be on the
ground. Scoop out depression in the
ground, or if this is impossible take Il
good sized box, knock the bottom ont.
place on the floor, and fill up about halt
full with earth or Slfted coal ashes This
last should be slightly moiStened before
going into the box. Now scoop out a
sufficient depression and p ace some short
soft straw on the earth or ashes and il Is
ready for the sitting hen
Quite young chicks should be fed often
but they do not need any feed the first
twenty-four hours. They will suffer nc
injury if they go some hours longer
The yolk Of the egg is absorbed bv the
chick, i'll part ut least, after it escapes
from the shell, thus furnishing nutrimcnt
enough to sustain the chick until it is
able to walk and follow the dam but
at this time Of year the fowls cannot find
much food for themselves 0r their broods
hence the chicks need and should get fire.
qUcnt feeding.
II the brood hen is not restrained Sh,
Will eat too much Of the feed intended
toy the chicks. This is iniudcous OF
two accounts First, the chicks do no
get rs much as they should, and consc
quently do not grow rs fast as the,
might secondly, the hen thus fed on tn,
fine nutritious food of the chicks i'm
proves rapidly in condition and is apt t
commence laying again and deserving he
brood too soon A brood hen should b.
encouraged TO stay with and brood he
chicks rs long as possible at this time o
year. In warm weather it makes les.
difference if the broodS have to take car
of themselves at five or six weeks old
But with early broods The longer the
hens stay with them the better. IL
secure this end don't allow the hen to ca
the brood's teed.-Eam journal.