Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1882-07-06
HABITS AND CHARGE OF FOWLS.

The morning feed OF fowls is the most
essential one of the day. The appetite at
this time does not crave hearty food.
The crops are empty and drained of yester
days food, and require something soft and
easily digested. Regularly fed fowls do not
take their hearty meal till after 2 or 3p. m.,
when the laying is over and the appetite
sharpened to its keenest edge. Then it is
that whole grain is in demand. The MORN
ing feed should be light and soft, and con-
sist of scalded meal, with animal matter in
termixed-that is, grease and salt of some
description, scrapings and leavings of the
dinner table. This is highly relished at all
times, but is more applicable in the early
portion of the day with fowls in confine-
ment. When fowls are at large, their first
meal consists of insects and worms, with
which they fill themselves, arising at the
first dawn OF day and going abroad, for at
least eight months in the year. Hence the
idea in many minds that fowls for that period
at leasl are selt-supporting. This is an er-
ror. They may gain a livelihood of them
selves, but it is either at the expense of the
owners or his neighbours grain fields and
garden and fruit yards. The fowls must
have grain, and since this is the case, it is
much better to confine them to certain linn
its, and supply them with certain quantity,
being sure that the allowance is sufficient,
and catering to their wants as nearly as ma
ture demands, or in as adequate manner as
their desires are understood by the owner.
In this manner the gardens do not suffer,
the grain fields are not rided, and the fruits,
especially the smaller ones, escape un-
harmed.
If fowls are kept at all, it is better to keep
them to the utmost ability of the owner
The real profit is greater, as the result is
more satisfactory. Give the fowls wide
range, if it can be done without damage to
the neighbors or owner !; but find confine-
ment with ample room and catering to their
wants much better. In the latter case there
are no hens stealing their nests, and bring
ing off at an unexpected brood at an unrea-
sonable time, when eggs are more of con-
sideration than late chickens. These chance
chicks may be an advantage sometimes, but
more times damage. The number Of eggs
is greater; every nest is sure to be found,
and all the eggs gathered daily, whereas
when at large, many nests are stolen, and
| the eggs become spoiled in warm weather
by lying exposed to changes Of wet and
heat in the out-of-the-way nest. Hens that
are confined lay better, too. Of this | am
fully convinced by trial. They must not be
neglected, however, for in that case they
not only diminish in profit, but actually suf-
fer for the necessary food and water. With
plenty of these, and clean, comfortable
quarters, there is no danger. The hens may
not lay two eggs in one day, but they will
certainly give two in two days.
That hen can possibly drop two eggs in
one day has always been doubted, but |
have in my possession clear evidence that
the thing has been done. We frequently
gather double-yelked eggs. The eggs them.
selves have two distinct yelks, and separate
whites, but both are encased in one shell
and may properly be called one egg. In the
case referred TO, there were two distinct
eggs, and separate shells but one was en-
cased within the other. 1t was curiosity
and a strange freak OF nature. The princ
| pal egg was no larger than common, but
contained its distinct yelk and white; and
the smaller one, which was about the size
of a partridge egg, was found IN the small
end. with perfect dark, cotfee-colored shell
On opening the shell, it was found to con.
tain the two divisions of white and small
portion OF yelk. The whole was of Brahmt
origin, and is the nearest Instance of a hens
laying two eggs in one day on record.
i Fowls may and should be trained to b.
regular in their habits. The trouble of ad
ministering to their wants is less. and be
comes, as it should do, a daily tax and dut,