Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-19
Care and Cleanliness Necessary Tor Poultry.

grow better and ailments would be al
most unknown among our focks. This
'ule Is Care and Cleanliness. The
handling Of poultry is as simple as the
management of the plainest clock in
5our home; some little care must be
given to the winding of that or it
luits work; just so with the hen. She
'ewards our care with at least double
he return in eggs that comes with lax
attention. The clock must be kept at
work or it grows rusty; just the same
With the hen. She must be kept con-
SANITY at work or she grows rusty
md fat. in which condition she will
rot produce many eggs. An idle hen
s q mischlevous hen; a busy hen is a
Profitable hen. Make them labor for
heir food and your profit.
When their quarters, their nests,
heir rooSts and their bodies are en-
rely clean. then and then only has
he second part Of the rule had your
attention. To consider their comfort
ct US begin with the sitting hen; her
sreatest obstruction to comfort ana
uccessful incubation comes from body
ice. While she may be from all APP
pearance almost free from them. the
xtra heat that comes 10 her body and
he nest brings speedy additions to
his modest start. A clear nest Of to-
lay may swarm with lice inside Of ten
lays. This can be absolutely prevent
"a and the hen and her chicks come
rom the nest free from all these pests.
( simple methods are followed.
The nest box that is used for the
should be well painted inside and In
md about al the crcyiccs with either
Nhitewash, crude petroleum or liquid
ice-kill"r. The crude petroleum, o.
so-calcd dead oil. Il the best. ! doubt
I either bugs or eggs of same can con-
ain any life. II coated with this oil.
lean hay or straw should form the
Hest Some say tobacco stems are
good. The hen that ~ Ia occupy this
lest should be thoroughly busted with
insect powder the day before she IL %
~ removed to The Matching nest. "A
few hours prior 70 her removal she
,hould - induced to DUST herself III the
Try busting box. 80 that she may free
lcrself ~ an dead insects II any have
,-ru destroyed by the powder Just
before placing her IN the Matching
test. renew the powderinE ~ The body
ma feathers. ana sprinkle some on the
'op ~ the nest. under or over tn" eggs.
~ may BE-. This should destroy Am
living lice and ho on hand 70 make
speedy work 81 any that may come Il
life from eggs that may TO- loft On her
body OF among the feathers
Hens should always ~ vt ~ som,
Iuiet. ut-uf-thr-way place. where
other fowls viii not disturb them. ana
furnished with plenty VI food. water,
md good handy place n dust in the
sun. II possible. When 50 provided.
there is little chance far renewal Of
The insect pest; but 20 make assurance
. loudly sure. ID ~ safest 10 powder
them thoroughly during the spcond
week and at the same time sprinkle
some powder over the eggs. This
treatment should assure the prompt
Matching W every fertile egg. for the
-eason that the hen. undisturbed in
Yer labors. can give her undivided at
teniion To her eggs.
When the eggs begin to hatch, the
rem should be left undisturbed until
the full Il days have elapsed. Then
remove her from the nest If all fer
Lille eggs have Matched. remove the hen
and her chicks to dry. warm place
where they can have the sunlight
Here they should be kept. on a board
tloor If possible, until three or four
lays old. Each chick should be care
fully examined for head lice. that hide
among the down Of the head and about
the throat. If any of these are found
on any Of them. all should be wen
creased on the head and under the
throat with either melted lard. lard
oil or sweet oil. kerosene oil is often
mentioned as of benefit in destroying
lice Of all kinds on fowls. 1t will no
doubt destroy the lice. but at the same
time it will most likely remove the
feathers ana inilame the skin. and
often kill the young chicks. other oils
less injurious to their skin can be used
with quite as good effect. The oil
closes the breathing tubes of the lice
ana thus causes death. Any kind Of
grease or oil Will do this: so it is by
far better to use kinds that are least
injurious to the specimens themselves.
The use of tobacco stems is often
recommended for nest boxes. | 40 not
say irOtll personal kDOWleuSe tnat
they are not of benefit. but | cannot
see any good reason why the stems so
used should kill or destroy lice. 1t is
the common belief that camphor will
keep away moths. | have placed
Jumps of camphor in paper boxes with
fine hair-lining brushes, only to find ii
did not keep out the moths. The con-
tact of the oil closes the breathing
tubes Of the lice: the same result
comes from the use Of the very fine in
sect powder sold at drug stores This
powder is so simple of applica ton. so
certain of action. and 50 perfectly void
of injury, that its use can be recon-
mended under all conditions Lime
and other preparations that adhere to
their feathers and skin are no more
active in result. and add no comfort
to the fowl
Coops that are used from year to
year for the hen and young chicks
should be We'll coated inside and out
either with whitewash or crude petro-
leum. as mentioned above so that all
trace of lice or eggs may be destroyed
If thus carefully looked after. little
trouble will follow in the way of ill
health and disease.
This description of care and cleanH-