The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-02-17
Chats About Fowls,

Hens usually begin laying from nov
on. 1t is good time to pick out thu
| best and most reliable of the flock, ant
it should be done.
We would again recommend to oul
readers, says John W. Caughey in the
Independent, who keep a COW to give
their hens generous supply of sour mill
They are very fond of it, and do muct
better with than without it.
The large Crystal Palace and Dairy
Ponltry Shows of England have upwards
of 5, 900 specimens of fine fowls, pigeons
pheasants, rabbits, Guinea pigs and
other pets competing for the prizes.
Some keep eggs for setting by buryinf
them, completely covered, with the large
end downward, in fine middlngs or bar
ley meal, in stone jars Or boxes kept in g
dry, cool place. Eggs thus kept should
hatch out satisfactorily at the end oil
three weeks.
In mating Sebright Bantams take care
to secure breeders which have a fine,
narrow black laciug running all the way
around the webbed portion of the feath-
ers on the ack, breast, wings and tail
1t is quite Common to find them with
lacing around the tips of the feathers,
but fading out entirely about half way
around, forming sort of crescent. Such
breeders do not produce progeny.
Egg-bound hens indicate the difficulty
by remaining long on the nest without
purpose and by frequent efforts to expeI
the same. They should be separated al
once from their mates and after thor
| oughly oiling the vent with sweet oil
feed them only on soft feed. This will
usually aid them in laying their eggs
They should not be allowed to get toe
fat; better keep them on light rations
to reduce their flesh somewhat.
A story is related, which is said to be
true, of beggar woman who was pos
sessed of hen, and, being asked where
she got it, she said she stole the egg,
placed it in piece Of flannel and wore
it in the breast of her dress, the result
being that chick hatched and was sue
cessfully reared by her and followed hel
in all her .wanderings, and laid au egg
daily in her lap while resting on the
roadside.
Kerosene emulsion is an excellent lice
destroying mixture. 1t is made by boil
ing two pounds of soap soft soap is the
best) in two gallons of water until thor.
oughly dissolved, aud then add half g
gallon of kerosene while the soap water
is hot, and thoroughly stir until vel
mixed, and then add half gal
Ion of kerosene while the soap water
IS hot, and thoroughly stir until wei
mixed. Fer use, to two gallons of sof,
water add pint OF this emulsion. The
fowl is dipped into the mixture.
When high f1yers-such as Leghorns,
Hamburgs or others of the smaller
breeds-are desired to be kept confined
10 runs, we can advise no better fence
than six-foot wire netting with base
board, which will make the fence about
seven feet high. But even such fence
will not confine them as soon as they
learn that it is possible to fly over it
To remedy this we advise the stripping
off of the inner web of the flight feather.
of one wing except little at the points
The air will pass through, vbich will
cause their weight to drop them to one
side in their attempts to fly. If the
flights of one wing are clipped off il
answers the same purpose; but by strip
ping the featheTa the quilts remain tt
assist in holding up the wing and to pre-
serve the good appearance OF the bird.