The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-10
Poultry in Summer.

1t seems very hard to keep poultry
shut up during hot weather. and so it
often is. But by taking the needed
care, their lot may be made very COM
Portable, and the trouble be amply re-
paid in eggs. The heavy fowls, the As
iatics. need only a low inclosure, but
the constant layers, such as Leghorns.
need high fence. The present styles
of wire netting allow one to build an ef-
fective inclosure al moderate outlay.
If the fowls find their wants provided
for within the yard, they will! have less
tendency to roam than if comfort was
lacking. When fowls roam abroad,
green vegetable food and fresh insects
are found in abundance. L. there is, as
there should be on every farm. garden
of good size. the wastes from the vege-
tables as well as weeds should De thrown
to the fowls.
Another method to supply them with
vegetable food and insects also is to
measureoff two ample beds within the
yard, and break them up with the spade
or plow. Make frame OF the size of
the bed, cover it with wire netting, and
provide sides about six inches high.
These sides may be boards of the proper
width, and held by strong stakes, to
which the boards may be nailed. or by
using two stakes one on each side of the
board. Spade up one of the beds, al
lowing the birds to pick up the worms
and insects (for you can't we'll prevent
this). Sow it thickly to rye, pack
down or roll the surface, and put on the
frame. If, after the rye starts, the birds
manage to get at the plants. make the
sides of the frame higher. When the
rye reaches the net work, spade up and
SOW the other bed in the same manner,
allowing the fowls to eat of the grain
shoots as they come up through the
wire. When the rye of the second bed
comes up through the netting take the
wire from the first frame, and the fowls
have free access to 1t, to eat what they
will, and scratch for what they may
find. In two OF three days spade up
bed number one, turring under the
roots and whatever of the stalks the
fowls have left on it, and they also
should have left liberal manuring.
Sow anew and treat as before, alterna-
ting the beds until il becomes too late
to SOW. The last sowing should leave
good crop opon the ground, from
which the birds shall be kept during the
winter Dy the use of the frames. The
green rye will start very early and be
very welcome to the fowls, which should
be allowed to forage upon one of the
beds, while tie other crop is growing
to be fed through the frame, and the
same rotation continued. The rye may
sometimes be alternated with oats. mus.
tard or whatever other crops may be
preferred, but a winter grain should be
sown at the last sowing.
Ground bone may be applied to the
beds as fertaliZer. and when the hens
have their way with the beds they will
pick up lot of egg making material.
but this should not be the only food of
the kind furnished. Ground bones,
which cen usually be bought in cities,
should be given freely. At distance
| from such markets look to home re-
| sources. Bones from the kitchen should
be saved and brought into available
shape by grinding or pounding. Look
to the restaurants and saloons, which in
far inland villages have 'shell oysters
in cold weather, and engage their shells
beforehand. In some lakes and shallow
rivers, fresh water CLAIMS or muscles, as
they are called, are very abundant.
often so plenty that they Ray be racked
out the shells of these are mostly so
thin that they do not need to be ground.
If placed in strong box they may be
low the fowls to get at the animal with
in, while they break the shells smaller.
Fowls that are shut up in hot wealth
or need extra attention as to cleanliness
both in the house and without.
Whitewash1 use kerosene for lice, re-
move the manure frequently or cover it
with dry earth do not forget the dust
bath, which must be under cover where
ir may not be a mud bath.
Iffowls can roam about at will, maDv
think il they are given their evening
feed of grain they have done their whole
duty by them, and the creatures are
bound to take care of themselves.
Some do not even give the nightly food,
thinking that they will come home to
visit the nest boxes in return for past
favors. Water is one of the necessities
to fowls, always, and when they are at
large the supply often runs short. Runs
from drains that seem abundant, go
dry in June, and the poor birds have to
travel far to find water and if found, it
is often unfit, See that the birds when
at large can always ind good water
without tresspassing upon the domestic
supply or that Of a nelghbor. If they
must get this water from a river or
lake, see that they have an easy and
safe approach. Water may be abun-
dant and near at hand, vet on account
of steep banks they cannot get at it, and
must go without until they go home at