The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-02-17
Winter Management Of Fowls.

4 poultry keepers Is IN the winter months
During summer, it is true, there are
lice and diarrhea to contend with, but as
at that season fowls can run at large,
gather variety of food to meet their
wants, and have their roosting houses
thrown wide open, insuriug an abun-
dant supply of fresh air. they generally
thrive very well, even if somewhat ne.
elected They ought not to be neglect.
ed at any time, but they can be neglect
ed in summer with less disaster than at
this season Of the year.
One Of the essentials to successful
management in winter is proper ventila-
tion. The fresh air craze can be car
ried too far, pure air may be secured at
the cost Of frozen combs and wattles,
colds, bronchitis and ronp, but if prep
erly managed supply of fresh air may
be obtained, and no bad results follow
Proper ventilation provides for the ad
mission of pure air and for the outlet of
impure, and in my experience 1 have
found that it is best supplied by open.
ing the slides at the bottom of the
house. Impure air is charged with
carbonic acid gas, thrown off by the
exhalations of the fowls, and is heavier
than the outside air; it therefore
naturally settles toward the floor, and
must find its outlet there. AS il passes
out, supply of fresh air is admitted,
which rises high enough for the use OF
the fowls, erates their blood and pro-
ducing no draughts, does not cause
disease.
| Another essential to winter manage.
ment is strict cleanliness. As the
droppings become chilled, the odor
from them is not SO preceptible as in
warm weather, and the tendency is to
neglect their removal But filth in
winter, as we'll as at any other time OF
year, furnishes just the breeding place
that the germs of disease need, and to
its presence is due much of the sick
ness that makes poultry keeping dis
couraging.
! If fresh air is admitted in proper
manner, in proper quantities and at
proper times, and filth is promptly and
frequently removed. and if some kind
of a disinfectant-and there is nothing
better and cheaper than crude carbolic
acids literally used, much will be
accomplished toward insuring good
health in the fowls, without which
neither pleasure nor profit can be ex-
expected,
The proper feeding of fowls is anoth
er important consideration in the win
ter management. l have always found
variety essential to the best results, and
can from experience recommend the
following system.
For the mornings meal mix togeth.
er corn meal four parts in bulk, wheat
bran two parts, aud ground beef scraps
one part, thoroughly scald and mix
with boiling water, in which enough
cayenne pepper has been stirred to
slightly season the whole mass. Cover
the pail containing the mixture and al
low it to steam for vuarter of an hour.
Feed warm, but not too hot. Every
other day the scraps and pepper can he
omitted with advantage, unless one is
deslrous Of forcing the laying as much
as possible.
For the evening meal use whole corn
and oats one day, and whole corn and
wheat the next, varying the proportion
of corn and other grain according to
the condition of the fowls. Ordinarily
the mixture should be two parts of corn
to one of wheat or oats, but if the fowls
seem to be too fat, reduce the propor-
tion of corn and increase that of the
oats or wheat.
In addition to these two meals, it is
we'll to keep constantly before the fowls
charcoal in bits about the size of ker-
nels of corn, ground oyster shells, gran
ulated bone, or some other substance
which will furnish lime for egg shells,
and will also operate mechanical,
! in reducing the grain as it reache.
the crop.
And finally, green food in some form
must be provided. A great variety OF
green fsod may be used, some prefer
ring, one kind and some another. One