Middletown transcript., 1911-08-12
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS OF THE PENINSULA
POULTRY NOTES

Sweet or SKINNED milk is good for
fowls Of all ages, especially the youngsters.
Do not use wooden drinking fountains
for poultry. Wood is a germ breeder.
Preserving eggs in lime has been prac-
ticed for many years on commercial
scale.
The ducklings should always have ac-
cess to drinking water, but swimming
water can be omitted if desired.
II you allow eggs for setting to stand
around for two weeks before putting them
under the hen, do not blame the dealer if
they do not hatch.
Arrange before all the chickens are
hatched to keep different ages separate. The
small ones are crowded out and crippled
or killed by the older ones.
Let a brooder of chicks have their
range for few days, and the day they are
not let out at the usual hour their shrill
cries are enough to deafen one.
Green food is essential for ducklings-
lettuce, dandelions, or onion tops should
also form part of each days ration.
The poultryman who can give just the
right amount of the right food at all times,
is fortunate, indeed, for with individual
hens, as with people, they require differ
ent quantities at different times.
The ducks are easily confined with a
low fence; they rarely fly over a fence,
though they will crawl under q very
small opening. They need clean dry
straw to sleep on.
There is little danger of indigestion
among ducklings so long as the green
food and the sand hold out. Sand in the
drinking vessel prevents tipping, and is
easily gotten by the birds.
As the hot weather comes on you will
have to be more on your guard against
lice and such things. Here is where your
stitches in time count far more than any
number taken later.
Ducks are good hatchers but paor mot
hers.
Clean house often and don't forget the
windows.
Lawn clippings make an ideal summer
green-food ration.
The brooder should be 30 constructed
that it can be easily cleaned.
Ducks kept on land must be supplied
with fresh water three times q day.
Lighter foods are best these warm days.
Heavy food like corn heats the blood.
Fowls seldom suffer from constipation,
if they have plenty of grit and variety Of
food.
Green oats, sweet corn fodder and rye
are excellent green foed for both old and
young ducks.
Charcoal pounded fine and kept in the
drinking pans will keep the young and
old birds in good condition.
If the poultry raiser resorts to artificial
incubation, it is usually necessary to re.
sort to artificial brooding.
Real consumption in poultry is rare but
pneumonia, or Inflammation, or conges.
tion of the lungs is quite common.
Fresh, green bone is of itself almost q
complete feed and may be used as spec.
ial for egg production.
Feed the poultry on hard boiled eggs,
chopped fine boiled rice and soaked bread
every two hours from early morning until
night.
1t is no sign that hen is hungry just
because she runs with out.spread wings
whenever sailed. A hen never knows
when she has enough.
In feeding any kind of feed to the little
birds great care should be exercised to
prevent them from getting into the feed
with their feet.
To make strong egg shells the hen must
have plentiful supply Of mineral matter,
such as crushed oyster shells, ground bone
and clover.
When hatched leave the young over
night with the mother. Next day lift the
mother gently and place her in a large,
dry coop with the entire brood.