The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-04-01

iority having the form of the Ply
mouth Rocks, weighing anywhere
from five toseven pounds. They grow
quickly and, feathering early, we're
salable at six weeks to two months old,
weighing l TO two pounds and bring
ing fancy prices as broilers. The hens
from this cross lay nearly as well as
the Leghorns. A few crosses make a
little mongrel fowl that is an eyesore
and too small to be profitable. My
next cross was Light Brahma males
and White Leghorn hens. These were
generally pure white, larger than the
first cross, good layers as hens, and
early broiIers, but do not feather as
early as the first named.
One can keep two breeds without
confining them if the large breed is
hatched early and the small one later.
! did this for some years by letting
the flock run out with Brahma males.
l set only the dark eggs until I had all
the hens sitting that l wished. About
the middle of May sold my Brahma
males and brought home my Leghorn
cockerels, which lent to lady who
had pen of Leghorns. After two or
three weeks I began setting the pure
white eggs, which Matched from July
l to August l. The pullets from
these made early spring layers, con-
tinuing almost without intermission
until moulting time, not stopping even
then il we'll cared for. These late
matches come when there is an abund-
snce OF small seed and grain on farm,
besides insects, and il their quarters
are kept free from vermin they require
but little care after the first few weeks.
They should have warm, comfort
able quarters to themselves through
the winter. I have q brood of Brown
Leghorns hatched in June. One at
least began to lay in January. Of
course if one intends to keep pure
chickens of any kind for sale, one
breed is all that can be kept unless
yarded, and SO securely that there is
| no chance for mixture. But for farm
poultry this plan can be followed with
good results, and first crosses obtained
by setting the Leghorn eggs while
mated with the large males. The large
breeds lay yellow or brown eggs, the
small breeds white ones, so they are
easily distinguished.
If you are breeding pure chickens
of two or more varieties, the males
should be separated from them by the
first of February at least. 1 like to
let my hens run at large as long rs
possible, so shut the males up until
ready to yard them for breeding pur-
poses. Then put each breed in its
pen and turn the extra males out with
my stock poultry. / like to have two
good males of each kind, and then if
anything happens or the one yarded
does not prove satisfactory, | have a
vigorous male to replace him without
further trouble or loss of time. A few
weeks liberty will sometimes recuper-
ate fowl until he is as good as ever.
When yarded, chickens must lave
good care to do well. Change of diet,
green food, or scalded clover in win
ter sprinkled thickly with bran, apples
and potatoes raw sometimes, a warm
mess in cold mornings, with a good
sprinkle of pepper and salt, meat
scraps, broken dishes pounded fine
enough to be swallowed, coarse sand
and gravel, and plenty of coal ashes
thrown about the yards are inexpen-
sive helps to keep poultry healthy.
Then one can purchase the oyster she'll,
ground bone and many other things
recommended for chickens