The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-20
By measure, By weight
Keeping Hens on the Farm.

A Fort Plain IN. y correspondent Of the
CultivGtor writes: Ali kinds of grain may
lie fed TO fowls with benefit. Variety seems
to be an advantage, and probably fro
habit. it IS true, single grain with the
necessary animal and vegetable acccmpaai-
ments viii secure profit, particularly Il that
grain be wheat, least so, probably, If corn;
but the almost universal testimony is in IA
Yor OF a variety OF feed.
1t is in the nature OF the hen, as OF the
mich COW, to do best when it's treatment and
surroundings contribute most to its content.
Llent, making the proverbial singing han
that viii lay. To afford it comfortable quar-
tiers and sufficient range with a variety of
feed and pure water, satisfy il, and dispose
it to propsgs ticn, which under such circum-
stances, means the greatest amount OF
eggs. The hen is a domestic fowl
and hes domestic attachments and unless
made 70 feel at home and unmolested,
1t will be 10th to respond to the demands OF
maternity. A hen that is disturbed or fright
ened Will not lay any more than if allowed
to suffer from neglecr or q suficiency of
food, even among the best laying breads.
Treatment Is OF such Importance that the
old, improved fowl ia poor layer can with
proper care be made to realize profit on the
cost, and IN such case surpass the most noted
egg-produclDg breeds when neglected.
Among farmers it is doubtful whether
much. if any, profit on the whole is obtained
from eggs; rather it is q loss from the damage
done by the fowls where a free run is 81
lowed, as is more or less the case. All kinds
of breed have been thried here with pretty
much the same result They are a damage
to the grain, the garden, and are rot q bene-
1T 70 the grass, to say nothing of their foul
ing the walks. their uncertain Matching, and
bringing out broods in the fall, when not
wanted
In the exceptional cases, where farmers
keep up their fowls and have them properly
attended to III is ouite different. and il ia IN
the farm where they can be better taken care
of usually than elsewhere, on account of
their food, which, in its variety, is raised on
the farm, and the abundance of space for a
range which the farm affords; besides there
are usually members enough of the family
to See to the fowls, which lessons the cost OF
attendance. Not few farmers take adj
Vantege of this-which more ought to do,
since they are bound to have the convenience
of eggs fresh eggs at thst) and fowls for the
tabie-and with their better means for keep
ing hens sometimes secure a large income
and larger profit than is realized by the pro-
fessional poultry keeper. 1t is their superior
aDvantsges that enable them to do this, and
: If they keep hers at all let them keep them
well-in undisturbed possession OF clern,
comfortable quarters, with g variety OF food,
which the farm affords, and sufficient ground
and grass in summer for green feed and ex-
ercise; and it is plan that has proved to bs
excellent, as well as more easy, to allow the
hens to have access to their grain feed at all
times, so IS to avoid overlooking, keeping il
where they can not waste or foul it, aud let
wheat or wheat screenings be not the Least
portion OF the grain. The exchange of grass
and insects, which form part of the food of
fowls during the simmer, is more c7a
veniently made on the farm to vegetable
and animal food for winter. In this way
poultry can be made profitable annex to