Middletown transcript., 1911-06-24
POULTRY NOTES

Inc pouitryman who can give just the
right amount OF the food at all times ia
fortunate, indeed, for with individual
mems, as with people, they require differ.
ent quantities at different times. a hen
that ls laying an egg day, or even every
other day, will consume considerable
more food than one that is not laying at
all Early maturing pullets should be
extra well fed; they are making growth,
SIS we'll as eggs, so don't stint them, and
It they don't lay quite as soon as yeu
think they should, remember that the
food eaten is making flesh and bone and
that they will be better size than if they
are too precocious.
For 90 hens when running at large, feed
IN the morning three quarts of corn and
oats, the same at noon and night. When
confined, give in addition a large pan Of
shorts mixed with milk. Meat and green
food should also be given. Meat meal in
a mash is benefit in the moulting
period.
Chicken fever is probably most easily
caught through the eye. The incubator
catalogue is the most frequent source of
injection, though the poultry show is not
far behind.
You must know that duck has no crop
and that the food must be soft before it
passes directly into the gizzard. Feed
plenty OF sharp sand or grit with the food.
As soon as the young chicks are hatch
ed it is good plan to remove them to the
garden or out under the trees, if the
weather is favorable, where they can get
plenty OF insects to eat and catch all they
like.
The trap nest is a regular detective. 1t
tells the facts of the case, it tames the
hens, it gives accurate reports. if arrests
the robber hens, it gives an honest count
and it exposes the fraudulent hens.
A selected lot of one dozen hens will
lay as many eggs as the average farmer
will care to have hatched, and if the hens
are re-mated to a pure.bred cock he will
be the sire of all the chickens hatched on
the farm, thus securing uniformity in
color and general characteristics, instead
Of having chicks Of all shapes, sizes and
colors and not of characteristic merit.
The hens not in company will lay just
as many eggs as il with them, and the
eggs will possess better keeping qualities
than those that are fertile.
These are gala days for lice. Fight them
strong and bard.
Kerosene will do deadly work. Pour
it in every crack and crevice. Don't spare
it.
Watch the grit box. The hens are doing
so Don't let them catch you mapping
and the box empty.
Allow the cool air to enter the houses
at night by taking cut the windows, but
do not forget to have inch.mesh wire net
ting fastened to keep out the enemies.
Watch the condition of the young
chickens. If they are moping, look for
lice, especially the large louse found on
the head OF the chick. A drop Of sweet
oil will soon end his career.
Early pullets are the ones that lay ear
liest in the fall. Much, however, depends
upon the breed. The Leghorn and its
relatives may be Matched later than our
American varieties, such as the Plymouth
Rock, and those later than the Brahma
and Cochin. As soon as the chicks are
able to run about they have scratching
pen with lots OF litter in which to hunt
for feed. They are made to scratch for
living from the very beginning. Those
that are vigororous, healthy and well de-
veloped start laying during October or
November.
Poultry houses may be made rat-proof
by placing dirt or sand floors on a good
concrete foundation, and then can be
readily cleaned. In stables wooden floors
on concrete, while costing more than the
ordinary floor, will keep out the rats.
Galvanized wire netting with half
inch mesh will prevent rats gnawing the
wood beneath granaries, poultry houses
and small buildings, but the whole struc.
ture will need to be covered. Cellar win
dows should be protected in the same
manner. Do not place poison where fowls
other birds or domestic animals can get
at it.
Scrub poultry only sells because there
is not enough well.bred stock TO supply
the market. But how does if sell? Down
at the bottom. People naturally pick out
the better fowls.
A most excellent mixture for cleaning
the hen house is one Of carbolic acid and
whiteWash. Paint all the interior with it
using an ounce OF the acid to pail OF
whiteWash.
FFAR Agsa NFEEo 0TFTWTF