Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-09-25
An Inventory of Stock.


Matched during March and April are
sufficiently developed to show what
they would make if allowed to mature.
And it is then that the housewife on the
farm should take careful inventory of
her stock of chickens, separate them
into different grades, and decide what
had best be done with them. First.
and most important of all, number of
handsome and well-grown pullets
should be selected for fall laying. Pull
lets from most of the varieties, il
Matched in March and kept in a healthy
growing condition through the summer,
will begin to lay in October, and con-
tinue with short spells of intermission
all through winter.
The next most important selection
should be Of hens over one year old and
under three, for it is between these
ages that they retain their greatest USE
fulness. The hens selected to keep
should not be the largest and latest i'll
the flock, but those of moderate size
and fairly good condition, with glossy
plumage, bright red combs, smooth,
clean-looking legs and feet, and a gen.
eral appearance CT alertness and health
fulness. Hens OF this class will make
an almost even race with pullets as win
ter layers, and it is to them you must
IOOh 1OI OSEo 1OI udlCuluS Ill Gu0 6pI1uSs
as it is conceded that larger percent
age Of eggs obtained from hens over one
year old are fertile than of eggs pro-
duced by younger hens. It will also
devolve upon this lot of hens to raise
the spring chicks, as they make better
mothers than pullets, being more easily
managed and more settled in their
habits.
The older hens, those who have
crown fat and lazy, had better be
dressed and sent to the market the first
cool spell. The latest of them, it will
be found upon opening, have made
very little preparation for egg produc
ton; and besides, when fowls, especial
ly the larger breeds, once grow very
plump they are extremely likely to con-
tract all sorts of diseases, and to suffer
from accidents, as falling from their
perches, remaining out OF doors in cold,
snowy weather and getting frosted, or
becoming prey TO vermin. Their
obesity renders them helpless and I'M
wieldly, and it is more trouble than
profit to care for them.
1t is also good pan to get rid of the
old cocks which have become clumsy
and unwieldly, and have probably con-
tracted scaly legs and equity feet. Then
from their long habit of domineering
OfO1 ChO y OO1SC1 bICAOOIO VI CilC nOCh
they are apt to crowd them out and
prevent their getting their share of
food. It is better to use for the table
the young cockerels grown on the
premises, and to procure some else
where Tor breeding purposes. 10 male
Of mongrel breed should be allowed to
live after he is large enough for broil-
ing purposes.
Ny plan is to buy young cockerels in
the fall. They cannot only be pur-
chased at lower rates, but [ gain the
advantage of having them well win
tered, fed on wholesome, suitable food,
and protected from the seventies of
winter, things not nearly enough con-
sidered even by the breeders of fancy
stock. Having selected the above lots,
carefully separate them from the rest,
and catch up every chick that remains
in the yard, except those intended for
home consumption, and market them
at once. Just before frost poultry sells
better than for months atterward, for
with the first cold weather beef and
pork come rushing into the towns, end
the demand for poultry is very small.
Now that the yard is cleared of its sur
plus and the flock is reduced to a rea-
sOnable size, the owner should begin.to
feed with renewed generosity, melted
thereto by visions OF OVERLOOKING egg
baskets and the steadily increasing
price for fall and winter eggs.-A Farm
En- IS Daughter.