The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-10
Timely Poultry Notes.
fRichmond Progressive South. !

fRichmond Progressive Soulful
Eggs from pullets are not apt to
hatch as we'll as those from adult
fowls.
The secret of growing large and fine
chickens is to feed often and little at
a time.
Ducks begin to lay at an early age
an require liberal feeding to sustain
the drain on their system.
May very often proves a severe
month with young turkeys, owing to
damp weather which so frequently pre-
walls. They should be watched with
great care and sheltered on the APP
proach of shower and kept up during
rainy days. Some advocate littering
the floor of the turkey coop literally
with pine straw and it may prove worth
a trial. There is much warmth in the
dry pine straw and it does not seem to
absorb dampness as many other sub
stances do. The young turkeys should
be fed frequently, as this largely pre-
vents their straying long distances in
search of food. When they are well
feathered the danger line is pretty we'll
crossed but they should be examined
occasionally to see that lice are not
sapping away life.
Sometimes it is found necessary to
confine the fowls for few days or
weeks. When this has to be done to
shut them up in the hen house is
| cruelty, it often amounts to confine-
ment in veritable dungeon. A small
| yard should be attached to every
poultry house so fenced as to prevent
the possibilities of getting out. If,
however, you will confine them in the
house see that it has plenty Of sun
| light and air. Another essential is
plenty of pure water. To give water
in dirty pan or foul trough will not
do. To supply running water, of
course, is best when this can be done,
but when inconvenient, as it more
often is, have clean vessel and see
that it is thoroughly cleansed at least
once daily.
1t is not yet too late to set eggs for
Matching. In fact May should be the
the best month OF the year, and care
fully selected fresh eggs should hatch a
larger percentage, although this spring
has been very favorable to chicken
raising. Those who have not succeeded
we'll this season must attribute their
i'll success to either inexperlence and
bad management or going to work be-
fore getting ready. Eggs two weeks
old will hatch we'll if properly taken
care Of, but the fresher the eggs the
better. Some successful fanciers state
that the eggs saved for setting should
be turned over once every day, and by
this means they can be kept in good
condition for Matching. If you want
to improve the laying qualities of your
poultry invest in few Leghorn eggs,
or if you can afford it buy pure Leg
horn cock and few grade hens. They
will surprise you in egg production if
you have never had any experience
with them.
The merits of small poultry houses
are now, it seems, becoming more
generally recognized by breeders. In
the single house method it is easily
possible to manage larger focks as
they are aggregation of smaller ones
and this course is likely to result in
larger profits. 1t is pretty generally
conceded that small flocks of poultry
give the greatest percentage of profits
with smaller rate of loss from disease
and other causes. 1t certainly admits
a more perfect system in work, which
may be so arranged as not to appear
the same stupendous task that the care
and management of large flocks niece
states. The low house, too, with she'd
roof appears to be gaining ground in
public favor; this is probably owing
to the cheapness, and it is generally
conceded now by all intelligent poultry
raises that additional height to the hen
house is more in the nature of draw
back than an advantage. Light and
ventilation are two things that are too
often neglected in the arrangement of
poultry houses. Drafts are to be
avoided always, but light and air should
circulate freely. Ventilation should
always be near the top, and so arranged
that the object is accomplished and
not merely show. Those who have
heretofore been unsuccessful poultry
raisers should examine their structures
critically and they will probably locate
the most serious trouble with which
they unwittingly perhaps have had to
| contend with