The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-10
Essentials of Success In Poultry
Raising,

A most important part of poultry
keeping is the feeding. Though all
other essentials be practically perfect,
neglect or mistakes in this will nullify
the work, and seriously interfere with
perfect results. Three different OBJ.
1ects may be sought in feeding-growth,
laying or f~attening. The feeding must
be varied according to the end to be at
tanned, and, in any case, must be such
ne to maintain health. The problem
is not so difficult with fowls running at
large, but becomes more complex when
they are deprived of their natural lib
erty. Variety is best, not only be-
cause more natural and, therefore,
more conducive to the maintenance of
health, but because poultry like variety,
the same as other animals-man in.
~cluded-aud are better satisfied with it.
No n can advise q certain ration,
no matter how good it may be, and say
that that is absolutely the best for the
purpose. There may be dozens of 9th
ers Just as good, and ever though the
best were found, a change would often
be advisable. In some locations, a GER
tain feed may be preferable, because
cheaper, and this would necessitate
different combinations to balance the
ration properly. 1t is safe to say that
the most common feed in country
at large is corn, aud it is y the cheap
est in many localities. This is the sole
feed on many farms, aside from what
the fowls can pick up when running al
large. When they have an unlimited
range, this is not so bad. Some active
breeds, like the Leghorns, will also
thrive under a heavier corn diet than
many others. But for the heavier
breeds, and for fowls in confinement,
it is too fattening, and an over-fat fowl
is a diseased fowl. Hens may often be
made broody, if desired, by an abund-
ant corr diet. 1t is not an ideal egg
food, if fed alone.
To begin with the chicks. l & am not
much in favor of the mush-often
sloppy-with which some feeders fill
them. 1t is a fertile source of disease.
An excellent feed for a starter is dry
oat flakes, but they should not be al
lowed to pack their crops too full. This
may be varied with bread merely moist
ened-not soaked so as to be wet
preferably with milk, and fed sweet,
not allowed to sour. Another good va
ration is a cake made of equal parts of
corn meal, oat meal, and middlings,
with a pinch of salt and a little baking
powder; a little of some of the meat
meals may be added after they are two
or three weeks old. This mixture is
baked and crumbled up for them. Mil
let seed is excellent for a part of the
feed. They soon get, too, so that they
will eat wheat, and then cracked corn
~, 10 alIoI Gov am faaA q dow This
gives quite a variety. They should
have plenty of grit, charcoal, and clean
water. Bowel troubles carry off lots OF
chicks, and these may be largely pre-
vented by proper feeding. Sour, spoiled
feed or damaged grain should not be
given; it is poor economy. If the
bowels become c%onstipated, green feed
will remedy the trouble. Or a little
bran will have the same effect. 1t the
opposite trouble threatens, a very little
%cottonseed meal ration will help. AS
the chicks approach the killing age, an
increase in the corn ration will soon tit
them for their final taking off. AS the
chicks grow, the pullets and cockerels
should be separated as 5000 as the sex
can be determined. 1t is more profit
able to dispose of cockerels as early as
possible, and they should have feed
that will conduce more to fattening.
The pullets should be fed less fattening
foods and those that conduce more to
growth, and as they get older, the regu-
lar rations given for laying hens.
Almost any hen will lay some eggs
on almost any kind of feed, and espe-
cially in the spring when eggs are
cheap. But we wish a tolerably steady
supply the year round, and must feed
accordingly. For the necessary variety
1 use nearly all the grains, more or less,
but feed most largely of wheat, this
forming a portion of every days allow
ance l like a little corn in the ration,
and make the last meal at night, on the
coolest days, all corn. This grain gives
a good color to the egg yolks, and
seems to increase the size of the eggs,
The lighter breeds, like the Leghorns
will stand a heavier feed of corn than
the larger, slower breeds. l don't like
to feed too large a proportion OF oats,
but always feed some. Buckwheat is
good. All grain should be sound and
sweet. l feed first in the morning fine
grain, nearly always wheat, in litter,
SO that they must scratch and work to
get it. All grain is fed in this way,
Then toward noon, a very little more
fine grain; a little after noon, a mash
made of boiled potatoes, squashes, tur
nips, etc., a pinch OF salt, about one-hali
ounce for each hen of some good mea'
meal, and sometimes a little teamed OF
soaked cut clover. At night, corn, OF
part corn and part some other grain
Grit is supplied, as well as oyster shells
occasionally charcoal, and plenty o.
pure water. Apples, cabbages, and al
most any kind Of vegetables available
are fed more or less, and we are al
ways careful not to feed laying hen
anything with a strong flavor lik'
onions, that would impart a disagree
able flavor to the eggs. l don't believe
in feeding a warm mash the first thins
in the morning, as is the custom o
some; but if 1 fed any of it then,
would feed only a portion, giving then
some grain soon after to scratch for