Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-21
POULTRY.


Feed but little corn in summer.
With good management ducks can be
made profitable.
Now is one of the best times to sell stock
tnat you do not want
In the spring the early chickens sell the
best, and for this reason fall Matching is
the most profitable.
Where young roosters can be sold at a
fair price, the sooner they are disposed OF
the better, as they cost something to feed
and bring more care.
If chickens are hatched in the fall care
must be taken to feed them well so as to
keep them growing, or they will not prove
profitable.
A few fowls of the best quality in with A
lot of mixed fowls will add nothing to the
market value of the rest.
1t should be remembered that the differ
ent kinds of food supplied not only affect
the number of eggs it is possible to secure,
but also the quality of the eggs.
In very many cases it will be found
profitable to whitewash the poultry house
and yard once every month at least, especi-
ally in summer.
Barrels cut in two make excellent nests.
especially when they can be set on the
ground. They are roomy, and if good
layer of straw is put in the bottom, are
better than boxes set on the ground.
Fall-hatched chickens escape the heat,
and where the poultry are kept confined
will cost little, if any, more than If hatched
in the spring.
Cut straw is good material to throw
over the floor of the poultry-house to scat
ter small grain among, so as to give the
hens good opportunity to scratch.
Buckwheat and sunfower seed are both
rich and stimulating foods, and can be
used to good advantage in feeding poultry
that is being made ready for exhibitions
Only small quantity should be given at a
time-a handful to a dozen hens.
1t is important at this time to provide
good ventilation for the poultIy-houses.
The nights are warm and usually there is
more poultry on the farm than at any other
| time; so it is necessary to see that they are
made as comfortable as possible.
If ducks are not picked too close, and
are reasonably well fed, they begin LAYING
| about this time, and will furnish quite a
number of eggs before cold weather sets in
With early ducks for market and plenty OF
eggs, ducks can be made very profitable.
With guineas the best profit is realized
from the eggs, and for this reason it is de
sirable to have them gentle so that they
will select their nests and lay their eggs
convenient to the house.
1t is often the case that the turkey-hens
will steal out their nests and hatch out .
clutch of young turkeys late in the sum.
mer. The better plan of managing these
is to feed them well so as to keep them
growing and have them ready for market
any time after the middle of winter. As
rule, poultry at that time sell at good
prices.
The Importance of having poultry in
good condition when sending to market is
very important item, especially when
prices are low, as very little difference in
the price realized will often determine the
question of profit or loss, and it is usually
worth trying to secure the best prices.
In order to sell well, geese must be sent
to market fat. Usually they are sold
dressed, and their appearance affects to a
considerable extent the price. A nice, fat
goose makes a splendid table fowl, but a
poor, tough one is, to say the least, not
very desirable, and consequently, must be
sold at a low price.