The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-06
Among the Poultry.


Poultry can be fattened cheaper now than
later.
When sold by the pound. raising the large
breeds for market will be found the most profit
able.
BY keeping in good condition now the fowls
that TO be wintered over, it will cost less to
winter them.
Warmth and a variety of food are necessary
if a supply of eggs is to be secured through
the winter.
Geese do much better if they can have the
run of good grass plot. They like purslade
A sprinkllng of coal ashes under the roosts
can be given with benefit when they can be
readily had.
Ducks and geese should not be picked too
late in the fall or they will suffer from the cold.
1t will add considerably to the cost of winter
ing the poultry if lot of young cOckerels
wintered over. They should be marketed rea-
sonably early.
II the poultry are obliged TO walk in wood
ashes it will make their feet sore; hence 1t is
not best to use them in the poultry-house ex-
cept as a dust BATH and then they should be
An air space between the walls will add
considerably to the warmth of the house; in
building or repairing for winter this should be
remembered.
The most profitable ducks are those of the
larger breeds and they, if properly managed,
can be made to return a good per cent. on the
money invested.
Late pullets will rarely lay until spring, so
that if there are more than is desired to keep
through the winter it will be better to sell
them than the older hens or caller pullets.
By this time all the poultry should be
trained to roost in the house. There is always
an increased risk or loss when they are allowed
to roost outside while the fowls will be much
less uncomfortable.
In feeding condiments-salt, pepper. ginger,
or anything of that kind-care should be
taken to mix thoroughly with the food. This
will be found much better than 10 attempt to
give alone.
A bundle of wheat or oats and head or
two of sorghum seed, hung mp in the poultry
house, put high enough to compel the fowls
to make a good jump to reach ii, will add
materially in giving them exercise.
Keep the ducks and other fowls out of the
hog pen. 1t is much easier for hog to acquire
the habit of eating poultry than to break him
OF the habit after it is once formed.
Fowls will keep healthier if they can have a
supply Of green food during the winter and
now is the time it should be gotten together
and stored away. Cabbage, turnips, beets, car
rots or potatoes can all be used to advantage.
Ii requires much more care than the average
farmer can well give to attempt to keep large
number OF poultry. A moderate number will,
as a rule prove the most profitable, but good
variety will certainly pay.
1t is the care given during the next four
months that largely determine the amount of
profit that IL is possible 10 realize from the
poultry. After you are obliged to begin feed
ING the quicker the surplus poultry is marketed
the better As the weather gets colder the cost
of keeping is materially increased while there
is usually very little if any advance in the
market price.
Only a small number of ducks, turkeys and
guineas should be wintered over. A good sup
ply can be Obtainen next year and the eggs are
not so valuable at the time they will lay.
More chickens should be kept than any other
variety, as with good treatment they will give
supply Of eggs during the winter Ducks lay
next best to hens, usually beginning in Feb
ruary.