The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-06-16
Poultry Notes.

Poultry Notes.
Remember that the we'll hen does
not need medicine. and that the sick
hen does not need it after she gets
well. The feeding Of chemicals to
stimulate any functions that are al
ready healthy is a mistake. 1t is ad-
vocated mostly by the people that
have the chemical preparations to sell.
Every sensible p%oultryman feeds and
treats his fowls in a way that makes
such drugs unnecessary.
The value or harmfulness of the
grain diet depends on what other food
is being given or being secured by the
birds. While corn is condemned as an ex-
elusive grain food, in the case of fowls
that have the run Of the fields and
can get green food as we'll as insects,
it often proves what is wanted. There
is no rule that it is safe to lay down,
but each case must be judged accord
ing to the circumstances that directly
and closely affect it.
An eastern farmer declares that he
has discovered a trick that is being
played by a certain poultryman that
has developed a fine strain of breeding
birds. He bought two hens. One died
and the other refused to lay. After
awhile the second one died. and he
made an examination to discover cause
Of death. To his establishment he
found that the hen had been capon-
ized-rendered impotent to produce
eggs. The farmer asserts that it was
done to prevent the hen laying eggs,
and SO that the breeder in question
could hold a monopoly of the business.
Barred Plymouth Rocks.-I prefer
barred Plymouth Rocks for the rea-
SOM I give you: First. they are easy
to raise, and l lose very few after they
are Matched. Second, they mature
quickly, and are ready for market any
time after they are two months old.
The skin is yellow and gives them a
good appearance after they are
dressed. They are a very handsome
fowl, large and of good shape. Third,
they are the best layers of any of the
larger fowls; they are great rustlers
and SO do not require to much extra
food.-C. E. Pickering, Muscatine
County, Iowa. .
Yarded Fowls.-I lived in town from
1890 to 1897 and kept from twenty
four to ~forty-eighty chickens in a lot
30x66 feet. This was set in plum
trees, with an occasional run over the
garden and a small grass plat. We
had very satisfactory results. We fed
whole corn, oats and wheat. They. also
had milk and scraps from the kitchen.
In addition they were allowed to run
at will in a small stable yard 30x3O
feet. They also had access to the
stable and buggy house during the
day, but invariably kept OH their own
ground at night. B. Roberts.
While the number of hens that die
from poison is probably not large. yet
some deaths Of poultry are due to
poison and should be guarded against.
The demises are Invariably due to
carelessness. The can that has con-
tanned paint is thrown out into the I'M
used corne of the yard. The rain
comes and fills it with water, and the
poultry drink it. The potato field is
sprayed with paris green and the little
chicks drink from the bright drops
that sparkle in the sun, and afterwards
die from some mysterious disease"
The poison that is put to kill rats is
sometimes discovered by the chicks
and eaten. The constant use of poi
sons causes a certain amount of care
lessEess. Such carelessness is likely
at any time to prove expensive.