The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-05-19
Poultry for Farmers


G.. e. Matteson spoke on poultry for
farmers In part he said: 1.-The
farmer can make more money out OF
poultry than the poultry man can If
he will look after It, for the reason
that he has all the raw material at
hand. 1t sometimes looks as II the
farmer does not care to make money
out of poultry. Too frequently he
houses his fowls in some small and
inadequate building and neglects to
feed them balanced ration. We must
make our poultry raising a winter
business, for the profits are too small
in summer. Good housing, good
breeding and good feeding go together.
Proper feeding is something that we
have all to learn a great deal about.
We must make study Of the laws of
feeding. My method of feeding is to
give fine grain and screenings in the
morning. This is given for the sake
of inducing exercise, more Than to sup
ply them with food. l believe this ex-
ercise must be had if the fowls are to
be kept healthy. Then at IL o'clock
they get hot mash, but only enough
so they will feel like working after
ward. Green cut bone gives me the
best result of anything that I have
ever fed. Some poultry men are claim
ing that animal meal gives as good
results, but do not find that so.
1 do not believe it is advisable for
a man to abandon his common fowls
and go into pure breeds at once,
though l am a believer in pure breeds.
What man should do is to introduce
into his flock a pure-bred male.
Chicks should not be fed till thirty
six hours after they are Matched. If
they have to go without food for even
forty-eight hours it will do no harm.
If the chicks are Matched in an in
cubator the brooder should be kept at
100 degrees for number Of days, and
then the temperature should be low
cred very gradually. They should be
allowed to run out of doors enough to
gradually harden them up.
Q.-At what time should chicks be
Matched to make winter layers?
A.-The Brown Leghorns can be
Matched as late as May, but the heavier
breeds should be Matched as early as
March.
A Farmer have some pure-blooded
Plymouth Rocks. Of the later matches
some are far below standard in feather
and form, but notice that the pullets
that are off on feather and form are
doing most of the laying at this time.
Now, what is the reason for that, or is
it an accident?
A.-Well, that is quite common
occurrence. 1t may be due to over
breeding. Thus, if the birds are Plym-
outh Rocks, the standard requires
meaty form as we'll as a certain feath-
err. The best layers would have little
of the required plumpness, because the
food would be used for eggs. The lack
of plumpness is due to the fact OF their
being good layers rather than the lack
of laying qualities being due to their
plumpness in conformity with the
standard.
OFF a man wants layers, should
he breed from these off-birds or from
the high-standard birds?
Ale would probably get the best
layers by breeding from the best lay
ers he has.
Q.-For what market do you raise
your broilers?
Al sell most of them in Milwau-
kee. I have about 800 now that I'm
raising for that market.
Q-What about feather-pulling?
Alt is a vice contracted through
idleness. The best way to stop that is
to moisten the ends of the feathers
with kerosene. The other birds will
soon stop pulling feathers after they
find them tasting Of kerosene. Keep
the fowls busy, and they will not con-
tract that vice.
Q.-How about egg-eating?
A.-That also is vice contracted
through idleness; but you can stop
that by correct feeding.
Q.-How much space should be al
lowed for scratching and roosting
rooms?
A.-Allow about six feet for each
hen.
Q.-How do you define an old hen?
A.-With me an old hen is one that
is more than fifteen months old.
Q.-What kind of floors do you have
in your poultry houses?
A.-Earth in both roosting rooms
and scratching sheds. 1 remove the
earth every little while and have new
earth put in.
Q.-What do you use for grit?
Al use some of the prepared grits.
Q.-Do you think glass is good? Are
not the edges too sharp?
A.-Glass is all right. The sharp
edges of glass will be worn off in a
week.
Q.-What should be the size Of grit?
A.-About as large as a pea broken
in four parts.
Mr. Robinson-I believe that a
farmer can make more money keeping
a large flock of Leghorns and letting