Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-05-10
A Few Hints on Poultry Gull
ture.

The time OF the year has come when
the 1--we poultrymen should be looking
well to the subject of incubation.
Chicks that are Matched now, or during
the next three weeks will be IN time for
tie full crop of insects that are COMING
loltn ~ tue sunshine. Again they viii
mature before the cold weather catches
them next winter and will become prof
liable as egg produce Those who have
! good incubators are fortunate, but as
the majority of people have none, and
are obliged 10 depend upon broody
hens 10 hatch out and brood the chicks
a few words on this subject may not
be out of place.
The nearer you can let The old hen
have her own way about things the
better. Nature prompts the hen to get
her nest away from the other hens, and
where it is possible to let her set where
she has been laying, the results will
very often be far better Broodiness is
disease oyer which the hen has no
control. She becomes constlpated and
has an abundance of internal heat and
generally more than that amount of
| pure cussedness, especially If you hap
pen to want her to set in a better
place. Ii thermometer is place I'M
der a broody hen il will very soon
record 100 or over, while if placed un-
der ben which is not broody it will
scarcely register Go, showing conclu-
sivelY that ii the hen is not in the best
condition and thoroughly broody she is
worthless to put upon twentv-one
days fasting, and privations. Feeble
chicks are often the effect of not suffi-
cient heat and such hens are usually
huogry and remain off the nest TOO
long at time, causing the
chicks to come out too
feeble 10 stand the vigors of the first So
hours. When the hen finally gets
ready to settle down to business She
will be found to be in the very best
possible conditions thereby enabling
her to stand the hardships of remaining
on the eggs for three weeks. 1t is a
good plan 10 set two or three hers at a
time and when the chickens hatch they
can be given to one or two hens, as the
hatch may warrant.
1t would be well to set them on or
near the ground in good, roomy nests,
made not too deep giving the hen a
chance to turn the eggs readily without
them all rolling down into pile. Place
plenty of whole corn, clean water, and
a box of road dust near them, and
come just as near letting them alone as
possible. When the chicks begin 10
break the shells don't get nervous. but
let them take their chances, for if you
try to assist any of them from the she'll
the chances are that the old hen will
get uneasy and kill two or three while
YOU are infringing on natures plan.
The little chick needs absolutely moth
ing 10 eat or drink for Sc hours after ii
gets out of its prison cell Boil some
eggs hard, chop them fine, she'll and
all, and feed the chicks little and often:
the thing to do is TO keep them grow
ing. Never over feed, but feed often
and be very careful not to feed too
much sloppy food; whole wheat and
cracked corn makes good ration and
Will not cause loosness of the bowels
The little fellows should never be al
lowed to get thoroughly wet and
chilled, for just as sure as they do
tnev will not do well. Have the coon
that contains them aud the old hen |
SO constructed that they can be closed
up tight on Iafny DAYS and nights.
Look out for rats, and hungry old cats.
II YOU expect your chicks to grow into
eXhibito birds YOU must see to it that
the lath on front of the coop run up and |
be wide enough apart for the little
chicks to go in and out without being
obliged to squeeze through, which will |
always make them have crooked
breast hone and is disqualification
w. II. r.