Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
AdUlce
From
The
PouItry
Doctor


ait atftd in p %Bfis cq 25s Doctor
latter are ragged
and not At TO enter the show room. En-
perienced breeders realize the neces-
sity of carefully melting the fowls.
The amateur pays no attention to this
phase of his work, but allows nature
to take her course. If the birds were
growing under natural conditions in IA
woods or in a sheltered location they
would select if allowed to Ioam at viii.
then. they would emerge from their
hiding place in the fall with the same
beautiful plumage that we so much adj
mire in our game birds
But, when we erect fences around
our poultry plants and prescribe Ger
tain limits in which our birds must be
content to live. we give them no OBJ
portunltN to select sheltered hiding
places in hot weather and protect
themselves from the rays of the sun.
Poultrymen have been advised to imi-
tate nature in feeding and caring for
their chicks and mature fowls. but this
has been taken to mean simply the sys-
tenn of feeding. the value Of exercise
and range. and the need of fresh air
and ventilation. Why should we not
include in these requirements the fact
that We must initiate nature in prOvid-
ing sheltered place for our fowls in
the summer months?
No bird with faded feathers or broken
feathers is fit to enter show room
not considering at this time other de-
feCts that should similarly debar then,
from a public exhibition. 1t is simple
matter TO overcome these defects and
produce such satisfying results that
every one will find pleasure in doing it.
The fist requisite is to provide shade
for males and females. If you can sep
arate the males and put each In a small
pen 50 much the better. We were not
able to do this, but We obtained good
results by keeping six males together
in each pen and preventing any fight
ing. An old bird was selected for the
master and he was placed in the pen a
couple of days before the other birds
were added. In this time he became
accustomed to the new pen and felt at
home in it. When the other males
Were added their feet were tied to-
gether with a cord giving six inches
play. This allowed the birds to stand
up and walk around but hampered
them so much they did not think Of
fighting. After the master had assert
ed his supremacy. the cords were re-
moved and the birds watched for an
hour. In case any began to scrap a
slap on the head would quickly put
that notion out of its mind. After
w d u llitlt was no lut lIleI llouDle anu
they lived together ever happily-as the
story book says.
If you keep Asiatics or any breeds
with feathers on their feet, the floor of
the melting pen must be covered with
cut straw or some other substance thai
will not break the young feathers.
We provided shade by placing roofing
paper over the yard in front of the
house. A space of II feet was arranged
N Of
breeding pens with good ventilation in
the front. ANY one can easily make a
melting pen along similar lines. At >
or 6 O'Clock every suitable evening, the
males were allowed to run over the rest
of the yard and on grass when posi-
BILE.
The pen for the females was SINH
larly arranged and in it ten hens were
placed. The hens should be separated
some distance from the males. so that
the latter can not hear them and try to
get Out.-The Poultry World.