The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-11-26

cOrding to circumstances, by my large
flock OF fowls following me about all over
the place when the feeding time drew near
and sometimes had great difficulty in
preventing their presence where not
wanted, for, though in the ordinary way
my garden was fowl proof, yet if 1 were
carrying anything which impeded my
shutting the gate pretty quickly 10 ! half
a score fowls were through before could
put my burden down, then tin can, etc.,
came into requisition, for the stupid (?)
birds would not so readily follow me out
Of a we'll stocked garden, and sometimes
serious damage was done, moreover those
fowls which had once tasted of the for
hidden fruit were everlastingly trying to
get in again and too often succeeded, so
hit upon the plan Of never allowing
them to see who fed them and the result
was very satisfactory.
With young chickens, too, this is a
great advantage, for when they recognize
the poultry keeper as the provider of
their food they are apt at all times to
run out and follow him far away from the
coop. | shall have more to say On this
subject.
In places where the weather in winter is
very severe it may be advisable to give
the fowls some food at noon, but in the
ordinary way two meals per day will be
found adequate, though in cold weather
it will be we'll to give them extra at the
evening meal especially. This also is the
time when corn can be given more freely
and also corn hearts in the soft food.
Meatshould be chopped very fine and fed
sparingly, say good handful to dozen
fowls, but in Florida | do not think it
necessary except i'll winter when insect
food is scarce. Ground bone is good, es-
pecially for young, growing birds.
Some people advise broken oyster
shells. quite agree with providing them,
but don't think they are of much use as
food as some dO-they are useful in pro-
viding ma terial for egg shell and also act
in lieu of stones in the gizzard.
Speaking OF stones reminds me that
they are not drug in the market here.
On first coming to Florida | was puzzled
to know what to do to provide my fowls
with small gravel stones or their equiva-
lent. Smashing China cups, saucers, ETC.,
is a weakness with some people, and
where there is a large family this israther
q serious item at times. That was my
case and rather large supply of pull
verified porcelain found it's way into the
gizzards of my fowls, but found that in
establishments where master, mistress,
servant and all the family walked in one
pair of shoes and consequently there was
butlittle breakage and quite alarge flock
of fowls; it was evident that most of
them must go short of milling appar-
atus, yet they looked healthy and laid
we'll, so [ asked my neighbor how heman-
aged; the smiled and said, "Just don't
manage at all | guess you wouldn't find
more than one piece OF porcelain orstone
if you were to kill all my fiock.' And so
it is. know numerous poultry keepers
in the same circumstances. Yet | do
think that barrel of.small gravel is a
good thing to have in a poultry yard
whenever there is dearth of stone. A
shovelful put in a box will be appreciated
by the fowls, and it is astonishing how
soon they will dispose of it.
ITO be COntinued)