The Somerset reporter., 1891-08-20
Poultry Notes,

Secretary Rusk says that 1.-THE poultry
products of the United States had farm
value of at least $500 600, 600 last year,
and no less than 16 .000,0 600 dozen eggs
were imp rted at first cost of fifteen
cents per dozen, or nearly So 800 600
while the average annual imporatitn for
the past four years has been S2,2lG, 1923.
The high price of grain should in no
way discourage tue poultry keeper High
priced grain mesns hieh-prced meats, as
is shown by the records for thirty years
past, and poultry and eggs will advance in
price Ms surely ms beef and bacon. But it
will not pay TO feed good grain to fowl that
will not irrcrease in weight or produce
eggs. Gull The focks carefully before
Winter 1t will not pay to feed only half
enough, that just keeps them alive. Give
good grain regardless of cost, as poor
grain eau 'es disease.
Enough grain does not mean too much.
Encourage fowl TO 60 out and pick up in
secs. They are a good food for then,
and it is good for the other crops to have
them eaten, but give them a breakfast ear
ly, very early, in the morn ing. and as
much AZ they will eat just before it is
time 20 go to roost
They can destroy los of insects in gar
den, orchard amt nsps ru2us bed now, with
out damaging the GRO, Il, if there has MT
been Paris green used where it will de
stroy the fowl. II iher- are reasons why
they should not go out all day, give them
run just nigh, when they cannot
wander far, and when 1t would be pleas
ure rather than a task to sit out of doors
and watch that they do not get into mis-
chief Yarded fowl should have some green
food and a supply of meat scraps every
d,y. Do not give them tainted meat
Poor food will affect the eggs and flesh of
fowl as surely as it would the milk aud
flesh of the COW. II they can be sheltered
in open sheds now. very good, but If not,
see that the hennery is well ventilated
these hot nights. Ventilation does not
mean allowing a draught of cold air to
blow on them. II it did. ii would mean
roup few days afterward.
These poultry houses should face south
or southeast, but if the keeper cannot be
ready to feed soon after daylight, cover
the east windows and make the fowl think
the sun does not rise until you are r, ady TO
fec them. Most poultry houses have too
much g'ass 1t makes them too warm in
sunshine, and does not leep out the cold
during the night This can be partly rene
died by Stu ttis or curtains which will
protect the glass
Turkeys and Guinea Fowl are great for
sgers for insects. Ducks will eat lots of
them, as they do anything else, whether fit
to eat or not, but they will n 90 far to
find insects. Like most gluttons they arc
too lazy to hunt up their own food. Ducks
do not thrive well if confined. as their own
filth will kill them. If kept shut up they
a 6 Ia, Loa Ia al
pens clean, but they are not great rovers,
unless upon the pond They like green
foods, but when fattened for market
should have but small range and all the
fatte ming grain they will eat. They should
have dry quarters at night. Young ducks
can be made very profitable, because they
eat more and grow faster than chickens.
If poultry are kept In small coops there
should De arrangements to move the coops
frequently. 1t gives them clean place
and is better for the health Coops of hens
and chickens should be moved a little way
every day.
Keep off the vermin from both old fowl
aud chicks. Tobacco dust or sulphur will
usually do it, but an occasional use of
kerosene emulsion upon nesting and roost-
ing places is very good Do not put 1t on
just before the fowl are going to them at
night. 1t would kill lice, and might also
kill fowl, especially chickens.
Keep them growing all the time. A
stunted bird is never 80 good afterwards,
any more than stunted calf or colt. As
soon as the weather gets cool. separate
those which are 10 be marketed at Thanks
giving and feed literally. A bushel Of corn
will make more meat in fatten'ng sheep
than steers, and make more meat upon
thrifty chickens or 70 vi than upon either.
If there is room enough in the poultry
house do not think 1t is necessary to sell
off all the old hens. They lay the most
eggs the second year, and the largest eggs,
which will result in the most vigorous
chickens. They also make better mothers
when two years old than when one.
If keeping large fowl like Brahmas or
Plymouth Rocks, try to make them scratch
for living by burying the grain in straw,
and hanging fresh meat and cabbage
leaves up where they will have to jump
for it if they want it, as they certainly will.
Laying fowl should not get too fat, and
should have frequent changes Of grain;
especially when confined TO the yard. Leg.
horns and other small breeds will not get
fat very easily II given space enough to
range over.
It 10 just a. we'll to allow the chicks to
roost out OF door In very hot weather. but
when cold nights come get them In. Teach
the turkeys to come home nights by Civ.
ing them little grain every night. They
will then roost near the house, and not be
20 likely to be troubled by foxes or pill.
ferers.
See that the henhouses are perfectly dry
on the floor. Mud and damp air are worse
than cold weather. They should DO hxsd
before the Fall rains. Much depends on
having the door dry and clean aud he air
pure and sweet 10 the hennssy. When
that b all right there 10 NO fear Of disease
and good sassty Of profit. without that
there 9 alnoA . eestalaty of loak