Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-01-17
49, TOKEN .~-,NEss.
How It Can DO Made n Ncver-Faa..
Source of Income.

| How It Can DO Made n Ncvor-FaA.
Source OF Income.
Imado some practical experiment
last winter Of considerable value,
think. in regard to hens. In tho frs
place, l wish to say that it is simply
shame that moro attention is not paid
to tho chicken business in this country
II properly attended to it is one of the
most profitable branches of farm in.
dustry. but it is shamefully neglected.
Every kernel of corn that is fed tc
hens is considered wasted. The hens
are poorly cared for. improperly shell
tered. and the result is that they are
uncomfortable. They freeze their
feet and nearly starve to death during
winter. Tho result is. that It takes
them until tho middle of May to re-
cruit sufficiently to be in condition to
lny. Hens kept in this way are truly
Improbable. There is no portion OF
this country that Is too cold for profit
able chicken culture. This is demon
strated by the fact that we import near
ly two million dollars worth Of eggs
annually from Canada. A great deal
has been said about fish and fisheries,
while in fact tho value of eggs i'm
ported from Canada every year ex-
ceeds that of fish by moro than $780,
900. J,lis sh.vahd 1ao+ be. We ought
mot to import single egg from
Canada.
Another thing Of special wonder to
me is that so few farmers appreciate
what possibilities there are in raising
spring chickens for early market.
They arc always eagerly sought after
and arc invariably profitable. Chick
ems must be kept warm. Give the
hen-house a southern exposure, and
put in plenty of good sash to still
further increase the warmth Do not
leave cracks to admit the snow and
wind. II you find that the sun will
not be sufficient to warm the house, a
small coal oil stove will pay hand
somcly. The cost Of running this is so
small compared with tho profit that
will accrue, that It does not pay to
hesitate on that point. In the summer
the sashes can either be removed
and Stats substituted, or the glass
can be covered with white
wash or curtain to keep out tho
direct rays Of tho sun. A poultry
house should be cleaned out once a
fortnight and whitewashed once in six
weeks at the farthest. There is no
other way 10 be certain of keeping out
lice, and making sure that the hons
will be healthy.
Tho best roosts are light trestles
about eighteen inches high. These
can be made of inch strips about four
feet long, and as many as are neces-
sary. 1t is not best to have roosts too |
high. The roosts should be made NOV
able for convenience in cleaning
Above all things care should be taken
with the nests. Fresh straw should be
put in whenever the house is cleaned.
Some may object that all this is a
natter of trouble. So is any thing
hat brings profit on the farm. The
stables are cleaned every day. 1t is
lot a difficult or long task to clean
! chicken house. The principal thing
8 to get in the way of doing 1t as other
,hores are done There is no half way
hat is worth doingin the chicken bus
ness. Either n considerable brood
hould be kept and proper care given
hem, and thus make them pay, or
zone at all should be kept Cor Ohio
Farmer.