The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-11
Poultry Notes.

Correspondence New England Farmer
In the selection of food for chicks. if they
raised for the market one should be careful and
feed that which is not only fatteni ng and pro
motive of growth, but also that which will agree
with the chickens and not prove destructive to
their health. Take meat, for an example; al
though an excellent food for poultry at all times,
and should heartily recommend it for laying
hens, yet it is great mistake to feed it too freely
to young chicks Since it is great promoter of
growth, they will increase in size much too rap
idly, and this viii be the cause Of some de-
feet in them, and nftentimes render
them weak legged. Should they be troubled
in this direction. q good remedy is to
feed a tablespoonful of phosphate of soda and
powdered chalk In equal parts in thin, soft food
This allowance should be made for every twelve
or thirteen hens, and given daily; yet meat may
be fed to chicks moderately. Never use scalded
milk either for chicks or fowls except in case of
diarrhna, because of its constipating effect
on the bowels. Chicks grow much more rapidly
when they are given milk, IL some form, than
otherwise. Give them dry cracked corn when
old enough. 1t is great fallacy to think that
as soon as chicks are let out they do not need
any food or water, as they can get enough to
eat and drink out of doors. On the other hand.
a supply of whole corn ana water should be con-
stantiy kept in the hen-house besides their occa-
sional feed of dough; however, the quantity
may be somewhat lessened, but not to any great
degree.
In raising chicks for market the utmost clean
illness should be observed by the poultfyman IN
and around the houses and coops whore they are
bred. The plan much in vogue among our farm
ers of examining" the chicks just before mar
keting is not only inhuman ard cruel. but in my
opinion, is without reconpense. Many writers
on the subject have stated that the best plan
when a chicken is taken with any disease is to
kill it without delay. rather than attempt to
it, lest if the disease be contagious the whole
flock will be stricken with it. But my plan
would be to separate the afflicted ones from the
flock and try some simple remedies, as sulphur
pill, for instance, on them. And probably many
times n chick might thus be saved Allow them
ample room to range in, and an excellent plan is
to have a walk, which will add greatly to their
comfort, health and proftaheness. For the de-
struction of the many pests of the hen house one
should use carbolic acid, well diluted with water,
frequently and freely.
One should always be particular in the con
struction of hen-reosts. tohave them all the same
height, and not too great distance from the
floor. If roosts placed one higher than the
preceding one, the hens will all strive to reach
the highest. and leave the ones below unoccu-
pied Roosts should not be arranged higher
than four feet from the floor and by having
these able to be reached by foor-wide board
across which laths the width of the board are
nailed horizontally, the large and clumsy hens
are saved many a tumble, from which arises
swelling called humble foot" Frequently
sprinkle diluted carbolic acid kerosene some
other disinfectant over the roosts. that the
min which may collect there may be destroyed.