Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-10-28

Forest Grove. Oregon.
GRIT.
Grit Ia one Of the most rnportant
things In the poultry yard, and It ID
also Que Of the most neglected. II Is
quite impossible for fowls to thrive
long without Il. In confined ruus
the grit is often eaten oyer aud over
again, for the edges become 30
smooth that II passes In u few hours
alter II IL eaten and the birds peck
over the excremeDt. Poultry do not
nIasticate their food, but as they pick
II up 80 II Is swallowed, aud the mus
ticating prOcess gives Un IN their giz-
lard, aud II the proper materials al e
not there to aid the process nature
gives way. The weakest part goes
hrst.
For instance, some birds from one
yard are cold to two persons who
treat them exactly the same as re-
CARDS food, but one supplies his fowls
with grit, whereas the other does
not. The formers lot Of fowls are
In good health, while the others are
dropping aud dying. Only wooden
fence parts these fowls. Then in
what does the difference of health
consist? Because one lot Is well sup
oiled with what nature demands and
the Others are not.
Those who live IN the country may
think this article all very we'll for
town residents, but they do not con-
slider that their fowls require any.
However, In some country places,
although the birds have an uulimi-
ted run, they have no grit suitable,
for 1t Is not sharp. Very often the
ground requires u rest. The same
place has been used for fowls for
years, aud has"been used up" The
fowls therefore become very weakly,
and II bought and put Oh fresh
ground soon pick up. They do moi
even seem to notice the strange place,
but g" straight and pick up the grit
Where there are number of fowl,
running year after year they clea'
the ground Of every particle Of sharI
grit. The larger number of fowls
that are running, therefore, the srea-
ter Importance It is to provide them
with grit. 1t can be easily ascer
tained whether tn y have sufiic en-,
by opening the gizzards of those
that die or are killed, and cxamin
ing the quality Of the contents. II
the edges Of the stones are sharp il
is sign that they are we'll supplied
II, b owever, the edges are blant and
rosnd, 1t Ia proof that the poultry
require sharp grit. Chickens are
often put out IN grass field where
there are not q particle OF sharp grit,
aud the Ow.,er can not make 1t Out
why they do not thrive bett r.
Sharp grit is to poultry what teeth
are to the human family. Fowls
that have not this suffer with relax
ed bowels more or less, and some
lines they have diarrhna. This is
caused by the husks from the corn,
dry grass, etc.,. which blocks the
g,zzard. becoming very hard aud Of.
ten forming into bill. And the
fowl picks up large stones, and to-
gether they cause stoppage. The
fowls ~ effected should have sOne
sslad oil given them. pour 1t out
Of the flask into their thrOats. This
Is the quickest way Of doing it. The
hen may have two teaspoOnfulls,
male birds and chickens in proper
lion. l 6nd that flint grit is the
best of any that can be used. 1t is
harder than any other material, and
goes much further. 1t is
not Obtsinable In every district, but
he best substitute must he obtained.
really hard and sharp will
10. White glass, II not broken In
100 large pieces, will do. Old china
broken up 10 very good. Sand.stone
md ordinary stones are oflittle use.
Glass is far better. Small chips Of
granite may be used for this purpose,
,r bard clinkers from the furnace.
Oyster shells help the digestion a
little, nut not much. When fowls
nave plenty Of grit they are kept In
,fu,1 condition