The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-08-12
SECRET OF HEALTHY FOWLS.

49,
A veteran poultry raiser who has
learned not to fear disease, runs his
plant under the following rules. A
long experience has give him an in
side track on fowl-health.
He starts from the very foundation.
When he mates up his breeding pens
he excludes all that have ever been
sick. He wants strong, vigorous
birds, and birds whose ancestors were
also hardy stock. With this start he
is able to do good work. He avoids
in breeding, knowing that relation
ship will deteriorate the stock and
new blood will strengthen the con
stitution.
He never overcrowds his flocks, as
experience has proved that better
health is maintained and better re-
suits secured from small families than
from large ones. Besides, such vices
as feather pulling, %egg-eating, ETC., in
variably come from overcrowding.
He believes in fresh air and his
houses are so constructed that there
is a constant presence of fresh air in
them without the possibility of drafts.
He is generous in the size of both his
houses and runs; and as the size Of
the flocks is limited, the fowls when
compelled to remain indoors during
bad weather of winter never suffer.
The scratching sheds attached to the
roosting pens are heavily Uttered, and
among this litter grain is thrown, so
that the fowls secure plenty of eXer-
else in scratching, and the combs red
den up, there is great activity, and
naturally there is a great egg crop.
He breeds only from matured stock,
so that he may have strength in the
youngsters right from the start. He
feeds generously of such foods as are
best adapted to his wants and he
has regular times of feeding, that the
fowls may not become restless in
account of waiting to be served. He
knows that fowls quickly become
accustomed to regular hours for feed
ing, and that unless they are attended
to, they will get restless and cranky.
he feeds the best of food. The first
consideration with him is purity. Quail
ity is worth more than cheapness, and
the so-called cheap foods he has
long since found to be the dearest in
the end.
He is particular in the care Of his
focks. Everything must be perfectly
clean. The droppings are gathered
up at least every other day; the at
mosphere of the houses is kept free
from offensive odors; ailing fowls are
at once removed so that they may not
contaminate the air; the drinking
vessels are kept clean, and only fresh
water allowed in them; the feed
troughs are kept clear of filthy or
sour food; in fact, all these small de-
tails are carefully looked after.
Upon such a foundation there is no
trouble to build up a strong, thrifty
race of fowls of any breed.
| SO often hear the report that such
and such a breed is of a delicate ma
ture. when the truth is that the breed
is hardly but that certain strains OF
that breed have not been properly
handled, and for that reason a deli
cacy of constitution is found there.
Fowls as a rule are hardy regardless
Of breed, but no breed can suffer neg
lect. Some years ago | saw in print
that the white feathered birds were
not so strong and prolific as the col
ored or parti-colored varieties. This
theory. however, has been disproved
l.. 49, c,,oooco oDd the oOOd uorLx of