Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-02-17
BREEDING PENS FOR SWINE.

ing season for the early market.
BREEDING PENS FOR SWINE.
While there are differences of opinion as
to the location of the pen for breeding
sows there can be no difference of opinion
as to the necessity for having such pens
Sroomy. This may be contrary to the rule,
especially in cold sections where 1t Is felt
that the pens should be close and compact
for warmth. This may be all right for
hogs that are growing, but certainly is
not for the SOW with a litter. An ideal
breeding pen is not only roomy. but il is
light except in the corner where the bed
is and above all 1t is clean. The pregnant
sow is not easy TO manage when 1t comes
to exercise, but If the pen is roomy and she
is baited from the different sides each day
she will have to walk more or less. Then,
we have found it a god plan to locate the
bredeing pen so that there may be a door
opening into a covered shed. At feeding
time at noon a little tempting roughage
Is put into this yard to attract the ow,
and while she is out the door is closed
and the pen proper cleaned; his plan
forces her out doors and forces her TO
move around more or less. IL one will but
try the comfortable roomy pen it will De
found exceedingly profitable in more ways
h one. At least 1t will mean a SOW of
better temper and pigs of greater vitality.
FEEDING THE BEST TO SHEEP.
II is economy to save the roughage that
the COWS will not eat and work 1t over for
the swine, but to try this plan with sheep
means a decided loss in weight and in
quality of fleece. Ii there is a dainty ami
NAL on the farm 1t is the sheep, and il al
ways pays well to select the best quality
of feed for them. Opinions may differ as
to combinations to form a ration, but
sheep men generally agree that corn
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tirely. Oats should be the foundation for
the grain and with them wheat bran and
some oil meal may be used to advantage.
If the sheep are quite heavily grained moth
ing will keep the digestive organs in bet
ter condition than root crops. As for
roughage, OF course clean clover hay it
ideal, but any good hay or straw that is
clean and free from dust will answer the
purpose fairly well. If the quality of
~roughage is not of the best 1T will need TO
be made good by an increased feeding Of
grains.
EARLY FEEDING or POULTRY.
If one is doing general farm work it is
not much of a hardship 10 get up early
to feed the poultry, but IL they are all to
be fed there Is considerable temptation
to let them wait till one gets good and
ready. A better plan is to scatter a little
grain through the chaff at night after they
have gone TO roost with a good supper, *
will attract their attention in the early
morning, give them needed exercise and
make them contented while waiting for
the morning meal. DO not scatter much
grain in the chaff. just enough to keep
them scratching TO get IN occasional
kernel, then let the regular breakfast come
to them reasonably early and they will be
happy and contented until the grain feed
at noon. Always make 1t a point 10 let
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with their breakfast and especially If the
warm mash is fed. Observe your fowls
somewhat and you'll find they will drink
often during the meal and considerable
just afterward. Then they VIII feather
themselves for a time, then go TO the dust
box or the grit box and then b ready to
lay. Oh, II pay to make the laying hens
comfortable and cater somewhat TO their
peculiar natures.
MATERIAL FOR THE GRIT BOX.
1t Is not so much what Is put into the
grit box IL 1t is small and sharp as 1t is
that it be kept clean and well filed. Sew
eral descriptions have been given of grit
boxes In this department., the favorste be-
ing the one built narrower at the bottom
than at the top so as to form a constant
now of the gritty substance. If one can
obtain plenty Of small bits of coal ashes,
small and sharp gravel stones. broken
pieces of china and a few oyster shells,
clam shells are better, a good mixture is
obtained which will give the fowls all they
want in this line. Whatever receptacle is
used for the grit II should be arranged so
that the hens cannot get into 1t with their
feet or In any other way soil 1t. Many
boxes of grit go iuneaten and the hens
suffer for 1t because it is dirty and they
will not eat IL. Have the grit box located
somewhere so the hens can get at IL read
ilv and ae offpn as thew pleac so duripo 4ho