The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03
For THE POULTRY DEPARTMENT.
The Experiences Of a Poultry Raiser
BY j. KENNARD.
NUMBER v.

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had determined to raise some very early
chickens. II had learned that it does not
matter how cold the weather may be, a
poultry breeder who wishes to raise
chicks for. show purposes, sets his hens
as soon after December 10th as possible,
because he will, with "good luck" start
the new year with chicks. Should they
be Matched prior to January LIST, they
would be disqualified for competition as
birds of the current year, just as O race
horse dates his age from January LIST,
and his companion foaled the day before
is. his senior by year! AS had visions
OF raising some prize winners, was very
careful on this point and had no difficulty
in persuading two of my hens to set in
time to bring Off some chicks in the first
week ofJanuary. | had been very careful
to discard eggs after they we're tort
night old also all malformed and double
yolked ones, and to keep them in fairly
warm and dry, but not hot place. Ny
nests were made of boxes about q foot
square, with two sides taken out, SO that
the nests would be ON the earth, while the
fronts remained open for the hens to 60
on and off at pleasure, the nest boxes
were placed in dark corner of a shed
and facing the wall. The materials were
first good thick sod or turf (alas, we
cannot get such turf here in Florida)
placed with the grass up, and just the.
size Of the box, followed little in the
middle by being beaten down so that the
eggs would have1a tendency to roll to-
gether and not apart, @ strip of wood
the lower part of the front to keep them
from rolling out, some fresh cut grass
was put on the turf, then some oat straw
cutup into six inch lengths, and the nests
were completed. ! had a neighbor who
caught thefever from me, but derided my
pains taking, and went on thorough and
ready system. Ny hens brought off two
splendid broods; he was equally success
full, and became more cynical, but got
even with him later on for he lost all his
chicks, through leaving "them to nature"
as he said and letting them run about in
the cold and damp, while mine were taken
almost as much care of as if they were
children. No, the natural plan won't
work. Leave things to nature and what
is the result? ''The survival OF the fit
B test" and only the fttest, the weaker
succumb. Now stock raisers endeavour
to make all their stock "fit' for some
thing and choose the best to breed from
using the remainder for food or work
and they don't do it by blindly.. following
nature or their occupation would be
gone. Observe nature by all means, and
then use common sense to improve upon
it If possible. The modeof making nests
above described WAS suggested by nature,
the hen sets on the ground when she
makes her own nest,' the moisture OF the
ground is advantageous in keeping the
egg shells in good cOndition-if too dry
the chicks will have a difficulty in getting
out. She hollows it out and uses short
straw, etc., (when long straw is'used, the
hen is apt to entangle her legs..in it and
in scrambling out the eggs may get
br 0ken.) The hen chooses a dark place,
if she can find one, to set in; she is then
not SO likely to be molested. This is desir-
able in the poultry yard, even when wild
animals are effectually kept out as hens
which are exposed are often worried by
the other fowls. Lastly the hen likes it
! - L L