Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1884-01-31
IlgIe noulhg gard.
TREATMENT IN CoNFINEM ENT.

Ny fowls are confined the whole year. ex-
ccpt few weeks in early spring before the
gardens are made, and a lew in the fall al
ter the vegetables are gathered. The time
that they are at large in the spring is limited
indeed for the two breeds that | now keep
are DOrking and Leghorn. The latter are
inyeterate scratchers, and the former are
pickers; between them both destruction is
dealt to The early flower garlen, tearing out
the roots whichis the work ofone variety and
nipping the tender shoots and y0ung leaves.
which is the work of the other. This must
have stop, for dearly rs | prize my fowls,
there is tondness lett for the first blooms
of early Spring. The fowls must 60 to the
limits. Yet, tor all this check and contine
ment, see no fowls anywhere that can
compete with them in beauty, health or
utility. They are never neglected; herein
lies the secret. In winter, they are contin
ed in the building III summer, they r0ost
and lay in the building and run in yards, OF
which they have two, enclosed with lath
fence some ten feet high. The whole en-
closure would not exceed a quarter of an
acre, and yet | summer and winter between
30 and 60 fowls, and have an abundance of
eggs from February until mld-December,
when there occurs break, wherein the
quantity is limited Tor few weeks. The
fowls are extrav"gantly ton of the first
early grass that springs up in sheltered
places. along the fence sides, about the roots
of the house-yard trees. These tender
blades are rare tit bits to the fowls. Twice
each day give them a feed OF this. 1t may
be gathered in winter where the SHOWS have
melted away, and III moist, marshy places.
In lieu of this, vegetables may be fed. In
winter, cabbage heads may be strung up
within their reach, where they keep much
cleaner and are better relished than If mere
" cast upon the floor in the midst of the
droppings. A peck of chopped onions every
day or two are greedily eaten by my fowls,
that are so trained that they consume with
relish almost every kind of vegetable in an
uncooked state.
In spring and early summer | scatter a
half bushe basket of cut grass over their
yards, which are gently sloping to the west,
and are washed clean by every sudden heavy
rain. The wash escapes into the apple or
chard. When the season for thinning the
roots arrives all the refuse is carefully saved
in cleanly crisp state and given them
tender, succulent young onions, tops and
bottoms together, with carrots and beets. |
am a little careful about giving TOO many
beets at time, as they are injurious in too
large quantities bur of onions, lettuce or
carrots | make no stint. | frequently an
chor the roots OF carrots (when they have
obtained much size) under heavy stones in
small punches here and there that the fowls
may pluck at them in a mere natural way.
! Throughout the whole laying season once
in two or three days, oftener once day, a
! quantity of broken shells are provided. The
shells are broken in their yards on stones
kept for that purpose, as they like them
/ freshly cracked, the fine dust as well as the
coarser pieces being consumed. | use clam
never oyster shells, save when the former
cannot be had.