The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-31
OUR FARM BUDGET.
Eggs In Undertaking Good Butter.
Sorghum Meel-Turnips as Farm
Crop-Fertilizing Fruit Trees.
Be EsadS' Early-Steaming Fodder-Abou'
EnsiIAge Hints About Horses-Farm
Notes.-The.
Eggs In Winter.


With those who manage poultry for profit
much depends on the person in control, as
well AS the fowls if fair supply of eggs is
to be obtained. 1t is not alone sufficient to
provide liberal supply OF food, but 1t must
also be of character to more thoroughly
accomplish the object desired. Corn Is the
staple article of diet, and answers well in
one respect. which is to keep.the fowlwarm;
but corn is lacking in many elements that
enter into the composition of an egg. As
the eggs are really manufactured By the hen,
she serving as factory in that respect, it be-
comes apparent that in order to produce
eggs she must receive reproducing ma
teriaL We have in the egg the shell (car
Donate of lime), and in the yelk and
albumen (white) everything that serves to
create bone, meat, feathers and fat. The
food that is to be given, therefore, should
contain lime. nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
carbon substances which exist in variable
quantity in different foods. The lime is
easily supplied in excess by placing ground
or pounded oyster shells within reach, and
corn easily sustains the system with carbon,
of which it contains a large proportion.
Meat of some kind is best for furnishing
nitrogen, but in winter it is difficult mat
ter to procure it in some localities, and a
partial substitute may be had for it in
linseed meal, which contains nitrogen in
sufficient quantity for the purpose. The
phosphates are found in ground bone, wheat
and nearly all grains.
When in confinement there is necessity
for adding 90 the comfort OF fowls by pro-
viding warm but we'll ventilated quarters.
These should be roOmy, and the fowls must
not be crowded, as more eggs are usually
procured from "A small number, in proper
lion, than from larger and the roosts should
be all on the same level, and low. Oyster
shells not only furnish carbonate OF lime.
but assist in grin ling the food in
the gizzlrd. No matter bow sharp or hard
any substance may be that is swallowed by
the fowl, the gizzard completely demolishes
it, grinds it into an Impalpable powder, from
whence il passes into the intestines, where
the digestive organs extract all that can be
appropriated fol-, the nourishment of the body
and eggs. In winter il must be borne in
mind that animal heat is TO be kept us as
the first importance TO egg production, and
any deficiency of food will quickly be mades
manifest in that respect, but less food will
De required Wnen the quarters are warm anu
dry. Tonnes are sometimes helpful, and a
little copperas occasionally in the drinking
water is very invigorating.
But sometimes, with the best of feeding
and care, the hens will not lay. That is be-
cause some breeds, such as the Brahmas,
Cochins and Plymouth Rocks, fatten very
readily, and when hen is too fat soc will
not lay. The Plymouth Rocks, especially,
are famous for being the best and poorest
layers, for they keep fat on very little, and,
unless they can be made to work for a liv-
ing are dilatory in the matter of laying. To
do this it is best 10 give the morning meal
very early, which may be OF mixed soft
food, aud, as it will quickly digest, alongtin
the evening they begin to get hungry. II q
few inches Of cut salt hay or leaves are
thrown upon the floor of the fowl house,
and the grains scattered through it on the
floor, the fowls will scratch for them and be
exercised, which will not only add to their
health and comfort but prevent the ex-
cessive accumulation of fat. Corn should be
avoided altogether as food to a fowl in good
condition. Pure water and strict cleanliness
are also necessary; and with systematic
management and arrangement a greater
number of eggs will be secured.