Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-21

DaiIp kfru,eber 5ournal.
Poultry Notes.

| The Cayuga duck is said TO have originated
upon the historic shores of Lake Cayuga, and
| to be cross of the wild black duck upon the
common Mallard.
Too much meat, especially raw meat. is
hurtful to hens, but little meat must ALWAYS
be supplied, especially when in confinement
in winter to take the place of insect food.
| A dust bath for the fowls in close quarters
is absolutely necessary. twill serve to keep
the hens free from lice and parasites. An
open frame box filled with road dust or coal
! ashes is all that is necessary. Avoid using
ashes as it is liable to cause soreness in the
feet, head, and wings.
| In warm weather different mode of feed
ing should be practiced than in the winter.
| Fowls at liberty to go where they choose re-
uuire at most but two meals day; breakfast
when they come off the roost and supper half
an hour before retiring to roost. Confined
| birds to do well should have the morning
meal composed of soft food or corn meal,
ground oats, barley meal and bran.
Chickens require care to do well, Their
| food. their drink, and their quarters. all
ought to be we'll attended to. True. chickens
may live and grow to maturity without any
person giving them food or care, but then as
| general thing, they have but one commenda-
| ton, and that is hardness, and this is really
law-the survival of the 'fttest.
Those who care for and feed their live
stock will make the most profits and usually
have the best fowls. Close watch should be
kept that cats, rats and other evil doers do
not commit depredations upon the hen coops,
Keen the hen houses and roosting places
clean and sweet by liberal use of white
wash Chickens should not be penned up as
it Injuries the health. If possible let them
| run and catch worms.
Among the early chickens which now are
half grown the poor ones should be selected
out and not kept after they are hit to broii
June and July broilers will sell we'll, and all
the bad shaped and i'll plumed birds will be
best disposed of at this time If the young
birds present uniformity in plumage, size and
appearance, and you find it difficult to eull,
September or October may be better months
to select to advantage. Select only the best
for your own use or for sale as breeding stock
and send the culls to market.
This month we must exercise good Judge
ment in feeding our young and old birds. As
a general thing there is but little danger of
feeding growing fowls too much, Chicks
while building up all parts of the organic
structure will assimalate all the food they
take. The experience of our most success
full breeders proves the policy of feeding
often and as mnch as they will pick up clean
at time. This of course will cause the
birds to take more food than if it was keptb by
them where quantity was left at each meal.
Fowls should not be over fed with fat pro-
ducing food, says the Poultry Monthly, but
food enough should be given at a time so it
may all be consumed, and no more. If the
system is loaded down with fat. particularly
the ovaries, the production of eggs is retard-
ed and the number percepitibly diminshes,
if not the laying stopped altogether. The
food should be so proportioned that they shall
be Obliged to eat more fatty matter than they
need for the requisite amount of flesh, bone,
egg forming material and heat.