Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-02
FARMING MATTERS
POULTRY NOTES OF INTEREST

A hen will often be made to lay a
oft-sheIled egg by falling from a
perch, or by being chased about by a
dog.
Don't force moulting. Nature will
provide for 1t when the time comes.
This thing of starving poultry for a
long tine and then feeding them high
" nutritious food that they may be
made to grow new crop of feathers
is all nonsense.
With regard to hens which regularly
Snd Systematically lay soft shelled
eggs, it is generally found that they
belong to the very prolific varieties
for it is rarely that 4 hen belonging to
the Asiatic breeds suffers from this
complaint or habit.
The usual practice of cleaning off
the droppings boards, and storing the
drOppinss in barrels, is wasteful from
the fact that when so put together it
heats quickly and gives off its nitro
gen, the element which gives il its pc
cuiar value as a fertilizer.
Two principal causes may be as
signed why some hens lay eggs with
soft shells. Internal weakness is gen.
orally caused by too rapid production,
or something may be wrong with the
feeding, by reason of which the bird
gets an insufficient supply of lime for
shell formation.
Moulting is something that comes
annually in the lifetime of every fowl
and requires Il great deal of strength
and when the work of three months IS
crowded into one-half that time there
is n loss of energy that will be very
hard to be rcgained BY an early
moult the fowls may begin to lay eggs
in the fall, which means eggs all WIN
ter.
Much of the poultry we see in the
market Is poor and scrawny. Inc
breed, of course, has much to do with
this point, but the quality of any
breed can be improved by judicious
mode Of fattening
A good hen will lay at least a hun
dred eggs every year that may be sold.
There ought to be money in the chick
en- business and yet how many have
JAILED at it?
Crate feeding chickens is a simple
business that can be conducted sue
Ccssfully by any poultryman, farmer
or packinghouse in the United States.
1t is the most positive money making
branch of the poultry business.
Ev,r think of the work one hen will
do? A her will raise at least one lot
of chickens every year, but suppose
she raises ten. If half of these ten
are pullcts they will reproduce at least
one lot of chickens the next year. In
addition, the young ROSTERS may be
sold.
SnufIies or running ut the nose is
found in all flocks. especially at this
time Of year. and is only the effects of
bad cold. but if not given attention
may develop into roup. Pour into tn"
m"stril, a few drops of sweet oil. Feed
soft food and usually they will come
out all right.
on the farm where poultry is made
something of speciality, and where
most Of the grain raised is fed to
them. Il becomes Il matter of practical
Importance to make the most of the
manure product. A hen is said to pro.
ducc twelve pounds of dry manure in
year, the value of which, according
to oh, mical composition, is about
eight cents.
Many complaints are received from
farmers about the half grown chicks
dying apparently without good cause
at this time Of The year. 1t is hard to
get "A chick up to few months of Il
profitable period and then lose ii, but
until all who raise poultry learn to
fully realize the Importance of con-
stantly fighting lice there is likely to
br Il continuance Of trouble. 1t seems
almost safe to say that if one can
keep lice out of the poultry-housc and
eff of the chicks and fowls there is
ruthing easier to raise profitably thar
I.uultrv. The battle against lice
should he uncCaSng. Sometimes tn
trouble with half-grown chicks dying
Is due to feeding corn heavily at this
time II year. After the chicks have
passed the nursery stage it is a good
plan to cut corn completely out of
their ration until cold weather shuts
IN. or in other words. until it is
necessary to confine them in the
poultry yard ana to keep up the ami
nal warmth.
If asked to give one reason and one
only why farmers fail to make poultry
profitable. the answer might fairly be
because they do not believe in it. as a
lulc farmers consider poultry beneath
their notice. AS one farmer puts il
1T is all very we'll for the women to
fool with but this farm can produce
something Of moro Importance than
poultry" This same man was cX-
tremcly glad to have the women" help
him on. Of a bad financial sCrapc with
the Cncy they made from poultry. If
farmers would take the trouble tn
study poultry as they do cows and the
crops from which they hope to make
money. they would find it is profitable
ON the other hand. Il hundred or two
harnyard fowls mixture Of fifty
strains left to care for themselves will
generally result in failure and il the
farmer had to buy the food they ate
instead of raising it. there would be
no barnyard fowls on farms: if there
were any they would be of decent
breeds. Look into this matter if yor,
are inclined to ascertain il there is
money in poultry.
Depending as We must on the young
pullet for the winter s,lpply IF eggs il