The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-05-14
POULTRY POINTERS.
Talk About May Chickens.

III. b. Green In Southern Azriculturist.)
Some folks thinks that May-hatch-
ed chickens are brought into this I'M
sympathetic world only to die pre-
maturely-that they are weaker ma
turally than those Matched even in
June, and that they will just sleep
themselves to death and do no coed
at all. This, we say, is the way
some people regard May chickens,
but it is not our way, and. further,
our experience, extending as it does
back over twenty years or more. dis
proves this position entirely and
completely.
We hatch chickens in May, and we
have raised hundreds of May-hatch-
ed chickens, and we can candldly
and truthfully say that we find them
no harder than those that may have
been brought out earlier, and no
more trouble than those coming
later. This prejudice against the
May-hatched chicken is entirely un-
founded.
Perhaps some one is asking, "How
do you manage your May-hatched
chickens that you find them no es-
pecial trouble and free from dis
easel" In reply to this, we will say
that we manage them pretty much
the same as those Matched any other
month in the year, only that we are
very careful about keeping them
free from lice and mites, for right
here is where the Sleepy feature
comes in, when it comes at all.
In setting hens now, it is very nee
essary that they shall be unmolested
: by mites during the period of incu-
baton. This can be insured by fix
ing the nest properly before placing
) the eggs and the hen. The first es.
sential is a clean nest box, and the
thorough saturating Of it on the in
side with kerosene oil. Then the
nesting material should be fresh anC
. clean, and the sitter should have
!! some of the oil applied to her leg'
and thighs, fluff; ETC., before setting
: her, at least two days before, so a!
not to get the odor of the oil on tn,
eggs too strongly. Then, during
= the period of incubation, the hel
: should have free access to a place il
J. which to dust whenever she Is inclin
e ed while off Of her nest. This kim
of precautionary action will elimi
i nate all lice and mites; and then
" when the chickens come, and befor
IS they are cooped, the coop should b
s freely sprinkled on the inside wit
the same kind of oil, and some dus
thrown in the bottom before putin;
y the brood in. This means no lice 0
/ mites to start with there; and then
~ if the hen should be treated to tn
oiling of shanks, thighs, fluff, etc.
after the chicks are four or five day
SC old, and again once week for thre
o Or four weeks, the brood will hav
he no vermin about it all, and will b
II healthy. This action will thorough
ly eradicate the tendency to sleep,
a which is only the outcome of life
4" sucking vermin, and will insure
s bright and active bunch Of chick
N ems.
Some of the very best and mos
st valuable chickens we ever raise
|. were May-hatched, and some of GU
: Mayhatched broods have been GU
70 most active, healthy and rapid grow
f. ers. In the past we used to buy
$, good many fine eggs in the East
"a and, almost every time we got sue
20 eggs early in April there was a poo
,e hatch. because the conditions u
D. that way were rather against tn
fowls so early in the season, bu
% when we got the eggs in May, afte
.. the spring was well under way i
It the East and North, and the breed
ing stock had good outdoor rang
and exercise. we were quite sure t
get a satisfactory hatch. Of cours
l. we know that our season is at least
~ month earlier, but our chickens wer
T. May-hatched chickens and raised i
r the South, and they did well. On
y prize bird that we thought grea
T. deal of. and which was really O
. superior merit and value, was hatch
ed on the 9th of May. and he de
in veloped into as large and fine a fow
e as any specimen of his breed eve
% did.
The wild fowl, and very largel
the birds, even right here in our sec
o. ton, nest and hatch more often i
al May than they do in April, for, wit
N them, May is the ideal hatchin,
to month.
5 -
~ When you think OF Indigestion thin