The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-02-12
POULTRY RAISING.
The following Is an article writ,


POULTRY RAISING.
The following Is an article writtel
by G. r. Pearsall of Aberdeen.
In opening his discussion ! wan
to bring up three important matter
in the production of poultry, viz
First. Feeding; second, Breeding
third. Shelter.
You who have had the least expert
ence with chickens have observes
that when the first warm days o
spring come and the blades Of grass
begin to appear and the first insects
show themselves, the egg basket Il
full and eggs are worth to 10c {
dozen. The problem In eggs fol
profit is to get them when prices are
the best. This can be done BY
proper feeding, proper selection and
breeding, and suitable care. In feed.
ing to get eggs we must feed the
stuff of which eggs are made. We
might here present tables showing
the composition Of the egg, the COM
position of different grains, ETC., to
show what ration Of grain alone was
inadequate. but ! do not think II
necessary to 60 far into the discus
sion Of this matter, as the fact is SO
well known that we cannot pick up a
poultry paper or farm journal that
we do not find this statement or It's
equivalent obtain the best re-
suits in growing stock or In egg pro-
duction we must feed some sort OF
animal food daily. Daily should
mean every day from the time the
chick is 36 hours old to the time 1t is
on the block. The hen and all her
feathered tribe are omniverous ami
mails and some sort OF animal food is
absolutely necessary. Just notice the
crops Of some chicks that have access
to free range and you will be sur
prised to find the number Of worms
and bugs.
Animal food may be supplied from
several sources That most common
ly used is beef-scrap, product of the
packing houses which contains 40 to
so per cent protein. Skim milk is
also an excellent source Of animal
food. It may be fed either sweet or
sour, but never together or bowel
trouble will result. Why not kill
two birds with one stone and use our
common orchard pest, the jack-rab-
bit? II you are not expert with
shotgun, make few OF the dfigure
four rabbit traps and set them about
the field and orchard.
Another essential thing is green
food. In summer this is best sup
piled by plenty Of food grass and
free range. In winter hang up in
some conspicuous place in the poultry
house. sugar beets, carrots or other
vegetables. Be sure and hang them
high enough so that biddy has to
work for her rations as exercise is an
important thing for your winter-fed
layers.
From my farm journal / have
learned of green food that seems to
work when others fail to bring the
eggs. Moisten daily some oats till
they are well sprouted and you will
have feed that will be greedily de-
Alfalfa or clover leaves
make q good green feed when soaked
In warm water over night Grit and
oyster shells should be kept accessi-
Bile at all times. Last but not least a
supply of fresh drinking
water in vessels thoroughly cleansed
iaily,
think no fixed rule can be given
or the amount to be fed or manner
II feeding. The general practice
lmong poultry raisers is to feed part
whole grain and part as mash. In
he morning whole grain, handful
err bird, is fed in litter, of straw to in
uce exercise, and at noon, or later,
hopper is opened in which fowls
ave access to mash of ground
rains. In another compartment of
he hopper is placed beef-scrap. In
his way one does not feed balan-
ed ration but allows the hen to ball
nee her own ration. Whole grain
hould never be fed In this way but ]
/ litter.
Another important part of feeding |
the forcing of the mott, II you 9
ish winter eggs. This can be done
regulating the kind and the SUM-
y of feed that will bring the new 9
image. A very light ration is fed I
iring June. This is called the l.
'tarvation method" During July
ed IL gradually increased Till tha