The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-24
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a to keep them clean and sweet.
Add just a few drops of carbollc
acid to the water each day.
If possible, scatter unslaked lime
about the feeding and drinking
places once every ten days or they
may be sprinkled with a solution of
carbolic 1 part to 80 of water. Re
member at all times that direct sun
shine is one of the very best disln-
feeting and purifying agents that
can be employed.
While the wild fowl existed under
conditions imposed by nature, the
death rate from disease was compare
" low and confined almost entirely
to chicks under a few months Of age
and to fowls well past the prime of
life. The fowl was small and hardy.
The number of eggs produced in the
course of a year did not as an aver
age exceed from twenty to thirty /;
often fewer we're laid. Their food
was made up of considerable variety,
composed as it was of green vegetable
matter, ripe seeds and insects In
greater or less amounts.
Domestic fowls are placed under
abnormal conditions. Their death
rate from disease is comparatively
high for all ages. They attain much
greater size of body at an earlier age
than did their wild p~rogenators. The
number of eggs produced. in a year
by the domestic hen should not be
less than one hundred and twenty,
while some few focks may go even
as high as two hundred for each ma
ture hen.
The modern hen is an abnormal
product from which if good results
are. expected extra good care must
be given. She must be protected
from sudden changes in temperature
both in summer and winter. Give
her shade and shelter from sun and
storm. Give her a good dry place
free from direct drafts in which to
roost. Keep her nest and house free
from vermin. In fact, make her
comfortable, even though it is neces
sary to deport her from natures
course in so doing.
Nature smethOds of feeding should
be followed as closely as possible.
Nature provides a ration almost per
fectly balanced in egg-making and
heat-producing materials, contain
ing as it does vegetable, grain and
animal matter in good proportions to
maintain the health of the fowl.
Nature often fails to supply food
in sufficient quantities to promote
rapid growth, hasten maturity and
stimulate reproduction. Man can
improve on natures method of feed
ing by increasing the quantity better
than by interfering with the quality.
Aim to have something green for
the chickens, both old and young,
during the entire year. For winter,
while the ground is not covered with
snow, a small lot, close to the pOul-
try house, sOwn to rye, crimson
clover or rape makes good forage for
the poultry. During cold stormy
periods, while the fowls must be con-
fined to their house, a head of refuse
cabbage each day makes an excellent
addition to the regular ration. In
summer the green matter for any
ordinary sized flock can be picked up
by the fowls, as they have the run
of the fields and barn yard.
The grain should be of such nature
as to produce muscle and eggs rather
than fat and heat. Corn is very
good for a small part of the ration,
but it should nOt-be used to the ex-
clusion of such other grains as oats
and wheat when cheap: and wheat
bran and middlings at all times.
Millet and sorghum seed and kafir
corn are also valuable in egg and
poultry production. In fact, there
Ire scarcely any grains growing in
the South but what can be fed with
good results to poultry of the differ
ent classes.
There is not much demand for ami
NAL matter artiicially supplied dur
ing the spring, summer and early
fall, as the insects which are picked
up about the farm supplies Biddy
with an abundance of this material,
When the fowls are confined tC
small runs, however, there is need