The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-12-04
The Poultry Yard.
ADVICE no POULTRY RAIsERs.

A Sampson County Farmer Advocates Clean
Hen Houses and Clean Drinking Water.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
You were most fortunate in your
selection of Aunt Jennie to conduct
the Social Chat department of an
agricultural paper. Some poet has
said that:
He that by the plow would thrive
Must either hold the reins or drive.
Aunt Jennie may never have "held
the reins, but evidently at some
period of her life she has "driven, :"
or she could not have written as she
did a few weeks ago.
once heard an editor say that If
you want to learn how to run news
paper, ask some one who never edited
one, and he can tell you all about it.
Now 1 don't see why the principle
should not apply as well to other
pursuits; therefore, as my expert
ence in poultry raising is neither
varied nor extensive, [ don't see
why I should not give a little infor-
nation about chickens. First
FILTHY BOOSTING PLACES.
Filth breeds vermin-lice, feas
and mites; these cause diseases ;
therefore, if you wish to have healthy
fowls keep the roosting place clean.
To do this they must roostin a house,
- - 1900 IL $1,000 o-l l~r
They should be shut in at dark
and kept in till hogs are through
eating next morning. This keeps
them from over-eating, and the hogs
from undertaking. 1t keeps out
rats, minks, dogs and 'possums and
prevents roosting on walls, fences,
roofs of buildings and under cart
shelters, where if they are allowed
to roost, the plantation will soon be-
come stocked with lice in a way that
makes it impossible to get rid of
them.
| Have roost poles so they can be
taken out at pleasure and cleaned of
lice, for they are there. If youdoubt
it, take out one pole, turn it bottom
side up and look IN a crack or crevice,
and you will see something that re-
| sembles a strand of red flannel. Jar
it slightly and you will think it the
liveliest flannel you ever saw and
one that can separate into the great
est number of pieces.
There they are, and they do more
harm than the gray louise, because
they ''come like a thief in the dark"
and eat while the chicks are asleep.
Then you ask, what are we to do
about it? 1 answer, this: Clean
out the house at least once a month
and haul or tote the to the
garden or some other field, and pillow
under. Try to arrange to plow
your garden at same time you clean
out but should you wish to use il
under special crops ut certain seasons,
put it in a box or barrel and cover.
Put in small quantity of earth to
prevent loss by evaporation, andyou
manure.
At same time take out roost poles
and pour kerosene oil over them or,
if you wish to avoid such expense,
build a quick fire of straw, chips, &C.,
not too close to buildings and hold
poles over it. Then use the oil on
inside walls and stills, if any.
Now a word as to
THE DRINKING WATER.
Perhaps the greatest cause of dis
ease is found in mud-hOles, hog
troughs and dirty streams near the
house.
At every we'll there should be a
wide bench on which to place tubs,
buckets, &c. Under this place a
small trough with a strip nailed over
it so that chicks can put their heads
under to drink, but can't get in with
their feet. Clean this trough several
times each week by rubbing with the
hand, a cob, or mop made for the
purpose. Instruct each member of
the family to pour out the water at
night and the first n that goes to
the we'll of mornings must put in
fresh water. Every time during the
day when water is drawn and part
not needed, pour this into the trough,
and you will have fresh water with
out trouble or cost. p
have met but one man that didn't
love eggs nor chicken, and he was a
preacher-but not u very good one,