The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-27


 ways a little behind his schedule works at tremendous disadvantage and fails to secure the results he might otherwise obtain.
 Professor Stoneburn outlines below the more important matters which demand attention at this season Of the year:
 A F intervals. which are all too short. "A would-be humorists ask their 4 A poultry-loving friends the old question. Which was first, the hen or the egg" But whatever the answer, with us the hen is first. for upon her physi- cal condition depends largely the quality of the eggs from which the next genera ton is produced. Also, her condition. inherited characteristics and the treat ment given her determine the number of eggs she produces, 8 matter which is of vital interest to every utility poul- tryman.
 Unfortunately. a great many poultry keepers apparently feel that they may neglect their birds q great part of the year, and then, through giving them some special care when eggs are badly wanted, entirely overcome the effects of former mismanagement and secure eggs fin great
  cubation purposes. This Is mistake. Nature cannot be so easily deceived. The success of today is based upon the work Of yesterday. The man who succeeds with poultry must realize that the ac- tivities of the various seasons are but links in a chain. Each depends largely upon the other. weak spot anywhere may cause disaster. During the pleasant days of late September and October tho forehanded poultryman has much to do. and if he neglects his duties now, he is very apt to pay the price later. Heavy egg production in winter, when eggs are truly golden, Is secured only from follow ing out a well-considered campaign which covers several months. Just now one must endeavor to get his puilets-the most reliable winter layers-into productive form and provide those necessities which will be required during the cold months. The proper management of the melting hens was discussed in the preceding ar ticle in this series.
 Many Repairs to Plant
 We take 1t for granted that the poultry plant has already been overhauled and put into proper condition for winter. That roofs are tight. broken glass replaced. cracks closed up. the entire equipment cleaned and disinfected, earth floors re- newed, broken fencing repaired. If so, the buildings are in condition to receive the bullets, and these should at once be brought in from the range and installed in their permanent quarters.
 The bullets should be moved at once. Nothing Is gained from leaving them on the range any longer, but considerable loss may follow delay. It is most de- sirable that they begin laying at the earliest moment, as October and Novem- Der eggs are high in price. Further, pull lets which begin producing at this time may reasonably be expected to continue right through the winter
 On many plants the bullets are left out in summer quarters until cold weather makes it necessary to bring them in. By this time many have begun to lay. but when they are shifted to new sur- roundings egg production Is usually com pletely checked and does not begin again for some weeks. Therefore, 1t is best to get them into their winter houses before they begin laying, and then when pro- duction Is begun 1t will be steadily con- tinued, to the benefit of the weekly in- come.
 Do not mix the fiocks of bullets and hens. Keep each separate, as they will require somewhat different treatment. If possible. make the separate flocks uni
 
 regards breed. age. size, etc. On small plants such uniformity may not be pos- sibe, owing to the size of the whole flock and limitations of equipment. but this rule should be followed just as far as conditions permit.
 Gull Closely in Fall
 At the time of moving the bullets one should take advantage of the oportuni- ty to carefully examine each individual .6 ont .o1y ruh hal ha required standard. Discard those which give evidence of being lacking in vi- tality. as we'll physically imperfect. Srch will scarcely pay their expenses. 10 say nothing of making profit, and 1t will be money saved to market them now and thus give the superior speci- msns every advantage. every oppor- tunity to do their very best work.
 Such careful culling is especially demanded this fall Every indication points toward high prices of poultry feeds during the next few months. at least. and 1t VII be a rather expensive matter to feed a bunch of non-produc- CTS until the urge of the breeding in- stinct next spring forces them to lay.
 Those breeders who pedigreeing their stock. we'll may use the. opportunity afforded by moving day" to examine toe punches leg bands or other identi- flying marks and put sealed leg bands on the birds which will positively iden- tify them in the future. If this duty Is put off until time to make up the breeding pens 1t may be found that many of the marks have become ob- seured, and the pedigree work already done will go for naught.
 Pullets Need Fresh Air
 When the bullets are first transfer red from open sheds or the orchard trees to closed houses. the latter should be as freely ventilated as their con- struction permits. If this is not attend cd to, sickness may follow. Many 2 promising bunch of bullets has been ruined by taking them from the open and confining them in tight structures thus bringing on colds which. fin turn develop into roup and other serious forms of disease
 In addition to providing the maxi mum amount of ventilation. the poul- tryman will do well to adopt simple preventative measures at this time, es- necially during damp spells or sudden pAat,asr changes. The occasional use y.f permanagnate of potash in the drinking water will ward off threat ened opidemics of common colds and overcome such if they appear Merely drop enough of the material into the .'ater to turn the latter to a dark wine color. This treatment should not Be used constantly, merely few days 1t a time. as weather conditions dic- ate.
 esvs the prospective layers good aaying ration at once, using the mix ture which is to be supplied during