The Advocate and news., 1899-02-22
| RAISING POULTRY FORoPROFIT.
y
Some Hints Of Especial Interest to the
Younger Members OF the
Farmers Family.
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ne AOLlOWluB paper was A1Au ~ ShO
Berryton, Kansas, Farmers Institute Feb
ruary End, 1899, by Pearsoll Hotchkiss, a
14-year-Old boy, who has made practical
and profitable success Of raising poultry
on the farm, and his worthy example
might be proftably followed by many
other farmers boys. Master Hotchkiss
said:
Ladies, and Gentlemen: am asked
to read paper on the subject Of poultry.
1t seems a very small subject, but really
it is a large one.
First l will take the different breeds
of chickens, that have tried, and, those
think appropriate Cor the farmer.
"The Black Minorca I consider the
best They are large fowl, if you want
one for the table. They are excellent lay
ers, and lay large white eggs. They have
only one fault, that is they never set un-
less they are crossed with some other
breed.
"The Leghorn is second. AS market
fowl they are not in the race, but as q
layer they are regular machines.
"The Silver Laced WyandOtte and
Barred Plymouth Rocks are not near so
good for eggs, but are better for market,
"There are about forty different breeds
Of poultry to select from. l suppose they
are all good, either for eggs or market.
'But whatever you do, select good
stock or you will make failure.
"The next is the care. Build good
henhouse. You can build a good one
that will roost 200 chickens for $40.
~ 1. -
that for cattle shed, but you think the
hen can roost in the top Of tree and
lay an egg every day, and if she doesn't
do it you fell like killing her. But that
is bad mistake. She will do her duty II
she is cared for.
"You may travel this country as far
as you like, and out Of every 10 farms
you will not find more than three good
henhOuses. Some have open sheds and
some have none at all, and then they
grumble when they get no eggs.
But you will find on nearly every farm
a shed for the cow and most have a good
warm barn.
why? Because you think the chickens
are not worth anything. II they are
not, why keep any? 1t would pay better
than to let them roost in trees.
But there are people in the State that
make living by raising poultry, and it
seems that farmer might keep two or
three hundred hens at a good profit for
he raises all his feed and has also the
barnyard for them to scratch in.
II will take feeding next. Chickens
should be fed, and must be fed to lay
eggs for profit They may run a. pos
sible chance of keeping alive by scratch
ing around but that is all they will do,
and they will not and you cannot expect
them to lay any eggs.
"On a real cold morning they should |
have some good warm water, put in good
clean troughs so they can have access
to it. But don't make them drink icy
water or eat cold snow, and don't make
them drink dishwater because it is warm
It don't take any longer to warm clean
water. A hog would take your dishwater
in preference to your clean water be-
cause it is hog. You would not give a
cow bucket Of dishwater because she
wouldn't drink it, and because the
chicken is good natured and take things
as they come it is imposed upon
There should be system. In the
give warm mash, at O'clock,
composed of bucket Of cOrnchop and
bucket of wheat bran and two table
spOOnfuls of cayenne pepper.
IL scald mine, but do not make it very
wet. l then give half bUshel of un-
threshed kaffir corn. This is breakfast
for 200 hens, and then they are able to
scratch for their living the rest Of that
day.
Some seem to think they don't need
to feed the chickens anything, and nail
up the cribs so they cannot get in, or
stand in the door with club for fear
they may get kernel of corn.
Crit of some kind is very essential
and should be provided in some way.
You may get load of sand or mortar, but
| prefer clam shells cracked fine The
chickens have no teeth so they have to