The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-18
A Beginners Experience.

then comments on 1t at considerable
length. There is something to be learn
ed from both the letter and the reply:
[ would like to write you little in
teresting matter of my ten months ex-
perience in the poultry pastime. I start
ed last July by erecting 2O-foot build
ing, 10 feet deep, and started with fifteen
hens and a handsome Rhode Island
rooster; and since January LIST they have
laid 3l5 eggs, and that 1 consider a
very good record up to May 10th.
My house is very warm for them, and
[ have the west end and east end board
ed with two thicknesses of boards, and
tar paper between. Since last July 1
built a chicken department, two houses,
SxlO, with coops between attached, which
are six feet long for each building, Civ
ing the chicks outdoor runs; for l be-
lieve that keeps them out of the reach
! of cats-for no matter how cats are
fed they are fond of birds and chickens.
I have accommodations now for six sep
arate hens to raise their brood and pro-
tect them.
1 set hen in March, and you are
aware of the cold weather we have ex-
perienced this spring up to date. 1 had
bad luck for beginner; but bad be-
ginning brings a good end, and If you
only persevere you will conquer, never
fear. Well, I suppose the eggs became
chilled, for [ never got a chick, and the
hen was so disappointed could see it
in her eyes, and she was so persistent
to continue to sit that 1 put eleven eggs
more under her, and she Matched out
six little kids, making six weeks sit
ing. Of course, she looked rather pale
and careworn, but by good care and at
tention she came out all right, and now
is as bright as fox. [ was greatly
pleased at my first attempt. | have
five sittings at present coming off this
month, and if [ have good luck 1 shall
be richer by sixty nine chickens.
You say that Rhode Island Reds are
the best layers, but friend of mine in
-- says he likes Plymouth Rocks
best, and doesn't care for other breeds,
and he has a great number of biddies.
A neighbor of mine had a hen which stole
nest in his cellar with concrete bot
tom, and late in the last year he was
greatly surprised by seeing her march
out with nine chickens from behind
some barrels. What do you think of
that-on cold stone floor? I keep my
houses clean, putting in so often fresh
loan and sand; give them plenty of
green vegetables, fine grass and clover.
They all eat out of my hand, and fol-
low me all around; and when I am at
work in my garden they are peeking
through the fence Stats to coax me for
worms and June bugs I dig up. You
don't want to misuse them, or scare
them, for kindness brings good results.
[ made call on a friend Sunday in
-, and they had new incubator
in their front parlor, and as [ had never
seen one of those kerosene lamp boxes,
[ was interested in it, and [ tell you
those eggs look good enough to eat; so
many of them, all in rows like peas in
my garden. But give me the old
fashioned way, for the hen is good
J enough for me. am feeding my chick
ems on meal, little food mixed in with
soft crackers, and a very little meat
chopped fine. [ never feed my poultry
on whole corn, for [ believe it is hard
for them to digest. [ give them crack
ed corn and oats mixed.
[ see so many people who own poul-
try bring them up any old way, and
kick if their hens are sick or don't bring
good results; but they want good care
and plenty of food-then they will lay
good eggs and look fine. Beginner.
Z hope this correspondent, to whose
communication I have attached the si0-