St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-21
POULTRY PARAGRAPHS,
Timely Suggestions on IA Variety of ,ter
eStInS Topics.

|
Timely Suggestions on IA Variety of ltcr-
estins Topics.
1t is admitted by those who have
had most to do with the difficulty
called "cholera,' that there must bl
several kinds of it. From the best in
formation l am able to obtain, | have
no doubt that the disease is generally
traceable to unnatural and iniarious
methods OF re airing and keeping the
fowls res ulling in a complete disor.
ganization of the digestive appar atus.
the disease being superinduced at the
last by some climatic influence. 1t is
believed by many to be contagious,
but, viewed from my standpoint, the
evidence that such is the case is very
filmsy. When l read the recipes for
the preparation of fowl food | am sur
prised that there is not more so-callel
cholera, rather than less. In my opin-
ion, it is the ''ounce of prevention" to
which we must look for its final ex
tirpation, if that is ever secured.
2. Feed all the egg shells with the
other table and kitchen scraps, and
when the hens exhibit more desire for
them than for the other scraps accept
this rs certain evidence that the shell
food is deficient either in quantity or
quality. The theory that feeding the
shells is injurious OF leads to vicious
habits is false. They are the best
quality of she'll food so far as they go,
but it requires great many of them
to supply the necessities of the flock.
and they should be supplemented with
something else till all craving for that
special kind OF food is satisfied
8. My method of breaking up set
ting hens is to confine them in an out.
side coop on the ground, where they
are fed and watered. but where there
is no nest. In two or three days l let
them out at night, when, if they per-
sist i'll sitting, they return to the
nests; OF they can 90 on to the
perches. After dark l look over the
nests and carry out the sitters again,
till they finally give it up and return
to the business of laying. 1t requires
a little care and work, but it is
legitimate charge upon the business,
unless provided against by keeping
non -sitters only, which 1 do for the
most part.
4. 1t is said that in France the
marketmen sell fowl in such parts as
any purchaser desires, such as legs,
wings breast-meats. giblets, etc, SO
that persons desiring parts for any
special purpose or those unable to buy
an entire fowl may be all accommo-
dated. The French are q very
economical people, and distasteful as
their economy may appear to the
average citizen of this land of plenty
and waste. many of their methods are
worthy of study and imitation. Ou1
ideas of small things are often pref.
ndicial to the best interests of large
classes of tile people.
s. Light hens are the best mo theirs.
When l began keeping Leghorns /
Kept few Partridge Cochins for
latchers, but they killed half the
chicks by treading upon them. But ]
3red a small flock from them by half.
blood Leghorns, which were safer
and l have continued to
breed their descendants back 10 the
Aeghorn till every appearance of the
Cochin cross has disappeared, and
hese are the finest mothers ever kept
They are large enough to cover thirteen
gggs. sit well. are submissivcly han
led, are attentive and gentle mothers,
nd do not objnct to receiving the
hicks of others Matching, though
here may b. several days difference
n their>ages. I once divided ffty-six
hicks between two hens, and after a
title while took one of the hens away
nd the other raised the whole fifty
tx. She had specially constructed
oop in which twas impossible for the
hicks to be crowd ed and smothered.