Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-29

hundreds of chicks are lost in conse-
quence-where overcrowding is per-
mitted. The same can be said Of
Wyandotte raisers when they have too
many chicks in a coop-only ii is
feather-pulling instead of toe-pulling
that the latter must contend with.
Overcrowding produces sickness, and
II makes weak chicks.
Use Tobacco Stems and Disinfectant
But the greatest drawback to sum-
mer chick culture is Vermin-unless
proper precautions are taken from the
start. / believe that one of the great
est insecticides is tobacco stems. use
them freely. They are used eXclu-
sively in the nests of the laying hens
as we'll as in the nests of the broody
hens. The heat of the bodies of these
hens sends the tobacco fumes up
through the feathers, choking to death
all insect life. Contrary to the opin-
ion of some people, the tobacco fumes
do not in the least hurt the egg or
the chick. But I do not rely entirely
upon tobacco stems. Once a month /
use a disinfectant, which l spray into
every crack and crevice, including the
roosts and the nest boxes. of every
house on the place. 1t destroys ver-
min not reached by the fumes OF to-
hacco, and besides, 1t kills such germs
the premises. l might here state that
in this spraying the floor should not
be forgotten. Fumigation among the
! litter and droppings on the floor is
dealing destruction right in the
! enemy's camp, for it is there that the
bulk of the trouble lies.
For years / have used the above
method for destroying insect and germ
! life, and in consequence my chicks are
n ~ nro1t
are strong and active. Stamina is a
great tonic for chick growth. and in
| no season is it more desirable than
during the hot months.
The old time practice OF setting hens
| In the regular laying houses had the
result of infesting the houses with
: thousands of vermin. These killed of
old fowls and harried the young But
! the more experienced among amateur
poultrymen have learned their lesson
and hens are now set outdoors, in a
barrel nest placed in a shady spot
The war against vermin should begin
with the old stock in January and
continue throughout the entire year
1t is mistake to wait until the grand
army arrives-kill the sentinels the
spies that are in hiding during the
winter and early Spring months
Correct Dict For Summer Chicks
The next important point to be con-
sidered is the feeding.
The diet of summer chicks is prac.
! tically the same as that for winter
chicks, excepting that less corn "a
heating food) should be allowed in
the ration. There must be some corn
however. Put in Just enough to bal
ance the ration. The three grains I'm
portant for chick growth are wheat
oats and corn-in the proportion Gin
summer) of two parts cracked wheat
two parts oats (either cracked hulled
oats or oatmeaD and one part finely
cracked corn, all by measurement
These are mixed and placed in boxes
within easy access. After the chicks
are few weeks old give them a mash
composed of two parts bran (by
weight) to one part each of middlings
oatmeal. cornmeal and meat scrap. OF
this only enough is given each morn
! ing that the chicks will cat up clean
one OF the greatest dangers is to al
law mash to stand around to sour
Sour food kills hundreds of chicks an.
nually, and too much care cannot be
given to prevent this loss.
Fresh Water Necessary
Fresh water must be constantly be.
fore them. 1t is wonderful how FIRE.
quently these little youngsters run tC
the drinking vessels. They have hab.
itual thirsts. and to deprive them Of
water, If even for only an hour give.
them great distress
/ like the plan best of constantly
keeping a cracked grain diet before
the chicks. so they can help them
bselves at will. Their little crops hole
but a teaspoonful OF food at a time
md as they are continually exercising