The Republican journal., 1881-08-04

Laying Hens.
The editor of the Southern Farmer
and Stock journal says all granivorous
birds and fowls must be provided, if kept
in confinement, land during winter months,
with gravel in some shape to grind and
thus digest their food, or they will sub
stltute some unnatural substance to an
swer instead, which often proves fatal
Any close observer of the habits of fowls
has learned the fact that a material to
grind the food is as essential as the food
itself. Fowls will pick up the coarser
parts of discarded coal ashes and bits of
hard black coal. Every one knows that
Il milestone must be picked to grind
grain; SO also does the bird choose hard,
white, tiinty stones, with sharp edges.
When the stones become SO smooth as to
be of no use, they pass from the gizzard
INTO the intestines and are discarded, and
Il new stock is taken in. Stone by stone
they pass away as they become useless,
and thus the bird is kept in Il healthy
condition. If oyster shells, broken in bits
the size of Il kernel of corn and less, are
kept in an abundant supply within their
range, the fowls will give over hunting
fer gravel stones, and there will be no
complaint of their eating glass or any
other foreign substance. Some writer's
especially recommend shells
Nj glaniyorous birds have two stom-
dch~ or receptacles of food. In the first
1t is received; in the second it is digest
ed, and il al the organs be in good work
ng order, the birds will replenish the first
receptacle often, if food bc within reach,
and thus keep it filled, which is better
thdn to allow this receptacle (ealled in
fowls the "crop,'( 10 become entirely
empty, IN which case the bird when ac-
ers~ is had to food, especially grain, is
lst to over-cat, and thus bring ON indi-
Lc.loU AND "hard rraw," which, if not
tahaU q hand as soon rs discovered,
PROVES fatal. Many diseases termed
chicken cholera, roup and cankcr arise
U.W hard craW.
Indigestion is generally easy tomanage
taken in Sc; son. If allowed to run,
4ele is M remedy that will reach it.
hen Urst discovered. the bird is eager
drink there appears 10 be burning
'tUSl There is no remedy SO simple,
.ud Vet SO sure. if given in time, as Il
good dose of home made Yeast, two table
-uUoutuls being q dose for Il full grown
UIi. and less for a chick. administered
according to Judgment.
All 4Enivor0us birds are more or less
uoecu,orous, but purely insectivorous
Hrds never eat grain and have no crop,
r inst receptacle. Among these may be
as>rd. with but few exceptions, all our
grating birds, and many aquatic birds
.u -rauiyorous to a certain acquired eN-
lent, but those in a natural state feed
H4cN ON insects, and forage about
marshes and scdgy wastes, where they
u'ucUre also tender succulent vegetable
matter, which is highly relished 10y the
arGcr varieties. Both inscctivorous and
-raniyorous birds feed largely on ycgeta-
"- matter. Hens, especially laying ones,
eisl green grass at all seasons of the
.atr.
Exercise in the open air is also bcne-
u'la. to laying hens, and it is Just us nat
.iI for Il hen to scratch as it is for her
f.. eat There is a difference in the breeds
a1out scratching. The Domlnuues and
Brown Leghorns are great scIatchers,
being light in the body and active in
Hh. Laying hens are great toragcls
Id are subject to various diseases,
Hh@h are sudden and generally prove
atal Frequently We find dead hen on
beer nest, heaYy and fat. vet stiff and life
rss and in a natural position. Appar-
at.y there had been no struggle \
past M0rtcm examination will generally
-}e satisfaction. Very often mortlica-
uon has taken place in the ntestines and
rgg Ducts the organs Of which will tre-
luentiy be found entirely destroyed. This
often occurs from hurts and bruises. in