Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-29
For Practical Farmers

more than this as the lumber used in
the poXes is not of the best.
Lover the box with single ply tar
paper. all but the bottom. Then knock
the Dottom boards off the front of the
boX TO about two foot from the ground.
Ihen put a partition crosswise through
the center of the box. Make this par
titicl tight SO that chicks cannot get
through. 1t may consist of wire. or Iath
on the top but be sure and have il tight
at the bottom. Make two frames OF
one by two inch Stats. to fit each COM
rartmcnt. Hinge these with shoe
leather or iron hinges at the top. Gov
er the frames with one inch poultry
mesh. me cloth or canvas curtain is
an important accessory to this coop
ANA Snould extend the whole length of
the coop. rack lath at the bottom to
Keep the curtain DOWN on stormy
nights.
The coop is now ready for newly
hatched chicks. Two hens. each with
as many chicks as she can cover can
be accommodated in this coop.
When the chicks arc large enough To
take care of themselves, knock the par
tition out and put in roosts II few
inches from the floor. AS the chicks
grow larger Increase the height .of the
roostS and remove some of the chicks
to other coops, Until in the fall you
have about fifteen left in the original
coop.
After all the chicks are out of the
shell that will come out. take them ana
the hen and place in d box. Have Il
little chaff spread over the bottom Of
the box and do not feed for at least
| twentyfour hours. thirty-six is better
When YOU feed them remove to pcrnla-
nent coop.
The first feed should consist of pre-
pared chick food. if handy. If nol
make Il cIlnnby mash of / part corn-
meal, parts oatmeal. 1 part broken
crackers and l part mdlinGs. Mix
well and do not prepare more than
enough. for one meal as it soon sours
Sour food is not conducive to the
health of any animal. unless it is the
hog. II milk is plentiful it is an cX-
ccllcat food and will take the place of
| green bone or animal meal When
milk is not available use slightly
| warmed water.
Where chicks are on FREQ range they
are exercising all the time and will find
their own green food ana animal food
in the shape of tender grass and in
SectS. The chicks who do not have
this advantage will have to be made
exercise. This can be accomplished by
feeding the grain in an inch of chalf
The youngsters will work for hours un-
til the last grain is found and disposed
of.
The importance of pure water cannot
be too strongly urged. At all times
chicks should be allowed pure water
A hoine-m lie fountain can be con-
structed of a tomato can and a pie pan.
Fill the can, invcrt the pie pan over it,
| then quickly inVert the whole and you
have Il fountain in which the chicks
cannot possibly drown. Place n nail
under the edge of the can and the
| water will give down as used.
The floor of the coop should be
| covered with ciaff about one inch deep
| This will furnish work for cold or wet
| mornings and rainy days. Scatter the
food in the chaif and pull the chaff
over the grain. Feed the chicks four
! or five times a day until about three
| weeks old, when it can be decreased to
! three. Never allow chicks to wander
| through wet grass. if you want to raise
| them, or you Will be disappointed. An
| amateur has 10 figure close if he
| profits, and such things as wet grass
| sour feed. open water troughs ANA
| other traps will prevent figuring at all
unless it be on the DIR. side Of the
| ledger.
Yard Raising.
| More trouble is experienced this way
| although! if it is looked after carefully
more chicks can be raised than on the
| free range. The birds will grow as fast
but will be softer and juicier as they
| cannot exercise much. This system is
far ahead Of free range for raising
| broicrs. The feed should he Of as
| large variety as possible. Wheat,
| corn fed in moderate quantities, oats,
| buckwhcat. millct and vegetables can
! be fed prnftably. At least two or
thrc" If these Should be nscd Take
| the ones which are cheapest in your
| section and feed rs wild" q variety as
| your purse will afford. green food such
! as tender short grass. small clover. ana
| vegetable tops are all recommended.
| Green bone or meat meal should be
added to their ration at least twice u
| week. ! have tried to put on paper
my methods of raising chickens but I
| cannot GIvc you experience or judg-
| ment. The first you will get after
| raising chickens a few years. the Soc
ond must be born in You. With this
| desc1 iptiOn and pure water and air,
| seasoned with good Judgment you will
| have a combination which ought to
| put Won on the road to fortune.
If | had my way hens would not be
set There are many good incuhators
| which. if run right. will give better re-
suits thon hens ever thought of. Look
at the trouble you will Save yourself
even with a sixty egg incubator. This
IS equal to four hens. You do not have
| to feed it and it does not get lousy.
True you will have to care for al in
cubator but what a pleasure it is to
! = I l.. a.