Milford chronicle., 1901-02-15

The inclement weather Of last Satur-
day prevented many farmers from COM
ing to Milford, but it did not stop
/ large attendance in Grange Hall to
hear Mr.. Hopkins talk on "Chickens
and Egg Production, and this showed
that the farmers were alive to their in
/ terests. The discussion that followed
the reading of Mr.. Hopkins paper
drew out many questions, and the meet
ing was Of great value.
Mr.. Hopkins said
You have asked me to tell you some
thing about the chicken business. /
sunnose | can start the ball of discus
sion rolling, and you can pick my
thoughts and expressions to pieces if
you wish.
/ started poultry keeping with the
Plymouth Rock breed and soon crossed
them with Leghoru; white brown, and
last and [ think best, black LeghOrns,
to produce eggs. The latter cross do
not seem to be as hardy as the others,
and for this reason we are now keep
= ing Brown Leghorn ROSTERS for this
wear. To look at our flock Of chickens,
YOU would think we had all kinds and
breeds rs we have for several years past
bought more or less pullets wherever l
could get them; 50, as my wife says,
''thev are Just plain chickens"
The hens are of all ages, as we hardly
ever sell any. and never kill one. We
have hens three, four and five years old
that Law as we'll as the pullets, and | do
not guess at this either-I know 1t to
t be fact. We have now 100 hens,
5 which are kept in two houses each
house I2xl5 feet, with window on the
south size, and another window IN the
, peak of the north end over the door
The roost is three feet from the floor
and all the same level. Over the i1oOl
e is spread Il layer of dirt to catch drop
j. pings and this dirt comes from the hot
/, bed close hv. and this is dug over eacf
dav so there is little if any odor arts
t ing. Over this | sift daily the cca
a ashes, and add fresh dilt when neces
# sarv; the whole is cleaned out wheI
# convenient; and it makes nice pile o
valuable fertilizer, and it also keeps tn
Il poultry in clean environments neces
q sary to health.
/, The hen houses are shut up tight a
night aud of course they do not get GU
until my "better half gets up in tn
a morning, and if the weather be cold AM
, stormy. they do not get out at all. The
have not seen any snow this winter
,e except through the windows Whe
l. the ground is clear of snOw, we let theI
l. out
- In feeding, we generally give littl
" shelled corn when they first come o
u roost. Soon as the water can be heate
in each morning, bran and mlddhn
< mash is fed to them. Then follows
lot of boiled sweet potatoes. When til
~ weather is warm they must shell the
ut own corn, which is where they can a
ways get at it, and every week in Il
year the butcher leaves us beefs hea
d, which we cut and mash with an az
90 for them This, in my opinion, Is Il
al most profitable feed of all.
- As soon as a hen gets her eyes op'
in the morning, she wants drink al
.. to get it, will eat ice or snow, or driI
et ice water, if nothing else is provide
NV She is steady drinkeT all day Ion
so we give a fresh bucket of water ear
in the morning and at different tim
ch pour in sufficient hot water to keep
ear from freezing. You can't get maj
he eggs from hens that drink ice wat,
-. or eat snow.
10y Our whole success is made up of lit
things that take only few minutes
. time; but they must be done. if Y
want eggs in The winter when tn
al bring good prices Last year we h
about so hens We sold a few you
he roosters, and the eggs sold amounted
$4,000. We now have 100 hens, a
hu' during the month of January, we 81
Xe; So dozen of eggs for SIG 81 in our no
the market; but as | am learner, and !
ver a teacher. | want to hear from 9th
u vino have had success.