The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-16
TO IMPROVE POULTRY.

Samuel Cushman, writing to the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat, says:
When selecting stock, either for cross
ing or pure breeding, remember that the
choice of individual is as important as
the selection Of the breed. Do not be
satisfied with the cheapest, meanest
specimens. for a pure-bred fowl Or ami
mai has as strong a tendency to perpetu-
ate its inferior qualities. Secure the most
vigorous an dthrifty specimens that can
be found. II possible, secure the best
in this respect out of flock of several
hundred, and do il every time you select
your breeders.
Ignore the strictly fancy or exhibition
points. but see that the general Character
istics of the breed are well developed.
Discard all showing the slightest trace Of
sickness or the effects of disease. Do
not expect to get the best stock from
immature birds, for this sort Of breeding.
long followed, will run out the size and
vigor of any stock.
When once a sitting hen has accepted
the charge of clutch of eggs there need
be no further anxiety concerning either.
providing the nest is safe from vermin
and from the Intrusion of other hens.
Mistress Biddy understands her duties
and how TO perform them. and IL left to
herself will come off triumphant. If We
were not use to it, II would be a wonder
ful thing, this development of a living
feathered machine for manufacturing the
daintiest of flesh foods from grain. weed
seeds, insects and the like from the white
the body heat from a stupid old hen.
But, so surfeited are We with the great
bounties of nature that we do not wonder
at what is, but at what is not
In cold weather mice and rats are
frequent cause of rotten eggs. These
creatures crawl under the hens at night
for the warmth-their droppings tell the
story-and by pushing the eggs out into
the cold, or causing the hen to leave the
nest. the germ is chilled, dies and putre-
fies.
The sitting hen should have food. wa
ter. grit or gravel and dust bath within
easy reach. The food should be grain and
corn, as to digest this all OF her apparatus
is called into play, and this. besides
keeping her In good condition. the process
is longer and the food values are not
so quickly lost. With the hen, and for
the sitting hen IL is no advantage. II her
food is scattered and she must run about
a little and scratch 10 get it she will be
the better for II. and the airing the eggs
Will have meantime will do them no
harm.
Toward the last 1t is wei TO dust in
<art -,s.<xSar i-fo he- 20 L. -.
nest.
The chickens should be left in the nest.
or at least with the hen undisturhed. for
at least twenty-four hours. This will give
time for the yolk 10 be asorbed and the
digestive organs to get into working or
der. The first pickings OF the chickens Of
the hen that has stolen her nest viii be
tiny bits OF gravel to supply the little
gizzard with its grinding material Coarse
sand or very fine gravel should. therefore.
be provided with the first food. A coed
hen-wife, whose boast is that, barring
accidents. she never loses a chicken. gives
coarse oatmeal and cornmeai and cracked
wheat for the first few days to the
youngsters. Another makes a cake Of the
various sorts Of shells. dripping or crack
i4tt oSdNcNs VI ECCA Alc6AS VA ANCT OJls-
ed chopped fine. mixed with milk or boil
ing water. and baked slowly for several
hours. This she feeds dry and pounded
fine. or soaked in milk or water.
II wetted meal is given raw il must be
fed as soon az mixed. and only as much
thrown out as win be eaten at once
Raw wet meal is risky.
OF the relative values OF chicken and