Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-02-01
THE PpuLrHv YARD.

L. Raising Chicksns for FRONT
W. n. Yeomans in Germantown Telegraph
As general ruls farmers, In the true
sense Of the word, cannot or do not make
q specially In any line that Is not strictly
10 the category OF actual farming opera
tion but that have their specialists, and
whom they set themselves up as teachers,
do not do no from the real farmers stand
point, but do so as professionals, and so,
10 making their recommendations shoot,
40 to speak, over the average farmer s head
and from numerous rules and suggestions,
tend to discourage rather than encourage.
Every farmer should raise poultry, the
quantity of which he must judge for him
eelf. taking into account his location re-
earding neighbors aud all questions OF
feeling In any way the successful manage
ment of the same. Whether turkeys are
TO be raised depends upon location. III
near peighbors, and the farmer has any
regard for the quiet and peace OF the
neighborbood, he had better omit the
turkeys, since their disposition Is to roam
and they will become trespassers and
prolific cause of dissepsion. Geese and
ducks are similar in their nature, and
unless restrained will roam about at will,
causing damage to crops but they can be
confined in pen where there is plenty OF
water and will thrive, which is not the
case with turkeys.
In point of fact, for all purposes aud as
source Of profit, hens are the most protita.
Bile for the farmer. The benefit that comes
from hens devouring insects, etc., goes a
great way in balancing any damage that
may come from their being at large. 1t
is more satisfactory to have hens confined
In a yard to which is attached q warm and
well lighted room for a shelter nights and
during the winter. The chief profit of
poultry comes from the production OF
eggs during the winter season, when the
price is high but IL any one imagines that
they can procure eggs by half feeding
and allowing hens to roost on trees or III
open sheds, they had better go out of the
business Immediately. 1t is in having a
warm shelter and an abundance Of food
given in variety that causes hens to lay in
winter. A mixture Of grains, such as
corn, buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat screen.
ings, with occasionally feed of chopped
apples, cabbage, turnips or onions, and
also occasionally mess of cornmeal
scalded and spiced with red pepper, and
once in while a feed of chambers scraps
or pieces of meat chopped, will give
variety very similar to the food when
to produce good results than any coutinu-
Gus feed of ono variety. IL is also neces
sary that the fowls SHOULD have the
opportunity of enjoying the sand bath
when desired, and which should be
provided for their use nor should broken
and crushed bones, oyster shells, etc, be
omitted, lest there DO want of material
for shelling the eggs. II farmers exercise
little judgment in this matter, there
will be little fear of favorable results it is
where carelessness prevails that failure
occurs.
1t should be borne In mind that there is
one important source OF profit in the
manure that comes from poultry, II is of
a concentrated and powerful kind, and
very valuable for most crops, and if care
fully saved will amount TO considerable
quantity in the course of years.
1t was not the intention OF this article
to give explicit directions regarding the
entire management of fowls, but simply
to throw out few hihts that shall lead to
a more satisfactory practice than is
adopted on many farms.