The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-09-01

seed twice each week with one sixth
millet in each afternoon feed. The oil
in these particular grains is wonder
fully beneficial and birds will get rid
of their old feathers in much better
shape if given these little luxuries.
There are many breeders who dur
ing the moulting season do not permit
their birds to HATCH some go so far as
to separate the sexes until the season
has ended. Others permit the birds
to mix but make it point to see that
all nests are destroyed and no young
are raised during the period. 1t is ar
gued that If birds are permitted to
go through the debilating season with
out being compelled to set or look after
young they will go to work with
greater zeal as soon as they have
their new feathers and will hatch
larger and stronger young. Some of
the best Homer fanciers in the coun-
try write me that they do not dis
courage their birds about working dur
ing the moulting season, but permit
them to have their own way. They
make it a point to in no way disturb
them; if they. desire to work they are
not interfered with. Some HOmers
are of the kind that to try to prevent
them from working the year around is
to cause them more annoyance than if
they were permitted to raise young. l
have tried the suggestion of destroying
nests during moulting period and
found that the birds kept carrying
nesting material just the same and
were compelled to work longer and
harder than if I had permitted them
to have their own way The conclu-
sion is that it is best to do everything
for their comfort, by giving them
choicest foods, purest water, an occa-
sional tonic and letting them do as
they please in the matter of breed
ing.
Too many people make a failure of
squad raising because they grow care
less after they have had their birds
for a couple of months; they neglect
the fresh water, are careless as to
selecting grain and do not see to it
that there is always a supply of clean
grit, charcoal and salt and oyster shell
on hand The water fountain is one
of the things to watch. 1t should be
cleaned out once a week with few
drops of carbolic acid. An occasional
piece of lime dropped into the water
and now and then a little iron will
help to tone UP the system of the
birds. This is particularly true of
birds in confinement. Birds that have
their liberty manage to find these
things outside, but the confined bird is
helpless and must depend solely upon
his owner for the ingredients that con-
tribute to his good health
The great majority of my flock have
their liberty every afternoon. They
are stronger, better, healthier, heartier
and larger birds as result of it and
instead of neglecting their young, as
many writer's contend about liberty
birds, seem to give them extra care.
When feeding time comes they are in
the loft ready for their grain and the
crops of the little ones are always well
filled. They breed as often as the
confined birds, dozens of pairs hav-
ing young on one size and eggs on the
other of the big double nest boxes
provided for them. They are seldom,
if ever, sick and always hungry-two
things that contribute much to the
success of any loft.
Producing Capacity of Hen.
Tho fo ot that CO fpW npOnlQ Shr0W1