The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
YARD CHICKENS
REQUIRE GREAT CARE
Hens Kept in Small Spaces Are
Exposed to Many Extra
Dangers.
THREE PROBLEMS EXIST
~ PROF. A. C.. SNATV.

~ PROF. 4. G. SNATV.
Fowls are almost as universally kept
by suburbanltes and villagers as by the
farmers themselves. As pore than 80
per rent. of tho latter Keep chickens.
the extent and Importance Of the back
yard poultry plants will be realized at
Hens on the back lots require
little room and demand little care,
which may be given at convenient mo-
ments. In converting non-edible waste
into especially edible and readily mar
ketable products, the hen excels any
animal hat nay be kept on a small
plot.
Although on the farm the attention
given to poultry Is even less In the
summer than during the winter. the
back yard flock requires greater care
In summer than at any other season
Of the year.
Tho care Of the fowls PM red with
that OF the young chicks IL a simple
matter. but even adult birds show the
effect OF confined quarters. lack of eN
ercise N lack OF food, which a range
supplies In abundance. Natural oondi
lions must be duplicated in a large
measure II good results are sought. and
substitutes for natural foods must be
supplied as well. In fact, IL is me-
essary to obtain enforced exercise. to
maintain strict sanitation, and to pro-
vide a supply OF suitable substitutes
for the natural food found on a wide
range. This involves a certain amount
Of labor not necessary when fowls have
range and also necessitates "a good deal
more attention than most farm fowls
receive. As "A consequence. We often
see much better results obtained from
back yard fi2cks than from iiocks hay
ing free range on the farm.
The back lot poultryman has these
three problems First, sanitation sec
ond. enforcing exercise sufficient to
maintain vigorous health third, sup
plying a natural variety of foods.
When fowls are kept In confined yard
space both the houses and the outdoor
runs must be kept In a sanitary cordi-
ton. This really means nothing more
| than keeping them clean. How often to
clean IL a debatable question. and the
answer largely depends upon the climate
m partly upon the environment The
ideal housekeeper cleans every day so
does the ideal poultryrnan.
Unssnitary conditions OF any kind
must not be tolerated, especially during
the warm months. Daily removal OF all
refuse is advisable. since II greatly re-
duces the danger OF disease and of the
multiplication OF lice and mites. Clear
floors. clean nests and even clean walls
are conducive to health. The litter on
the floor and in the nests should be re.
moved and burned every two or three
weeks. depending upon weather, size o.
the flock. &C.
Al this time the house should b,
sprayed with a good mite killing disln
fectant. Many good disinfectants ma!
be purchased. Those who wish to manu-
facture one may Use whitewash or kero
sene. with enough carbolic acid TO Civ
the mixture a distinct arbolic odor
Spraying Is by far the quickest methot
Of application. but less material is re
|. CURED II II is applied with a brush. Ker
osene emulsion also IL an excellent init
killer, and with the addition OF CARROLL
acid becomes a disinfectant. Roost
, and nests need an application more of,e
> than the rest of the house, In the warm
/ est weather paint or spray the nest
and roosts with these mixtures ever"
ten days or so, while once a month wi
do for the rest of the building.
A tender forage crop which will an
swer the double purpose of purifying IN
soil and absorbing and turning to &c
count the fertilizing value OF the fowls
~droppirgs should he sown, This GRO
will he soon consumed or uprooted. anC
therefore. IL is advantageous to have IA
least two yards for each flock. In thi
way green food is supplied constant
with the least possible labor. For quiC
growth SOW oats or millet. although a
: most any small grain will answer III
purpose. II liz well TO SOW winter ry
or wheat late in the summer in one q
the yards, so that a supply OF gree
food may he had early In the spring.
The method Of feeding should De- sue
that the fowls are compelled to take
normal amount OF exercise. ENercis
IL essential to the health of the her
but II the hen has plenty to eat sh
has little inducement to exercise. III
less she IL In the best OF health sh
, will not lay. hence the need of exei
, else. Feeding small grains In lite
: is the most general practice. To fee
I sparingly at morning and noon an
give IA full meal at night liz Il goo
rule. Exercise OF the most vigorou
4 kind may be induced by burying III
grains IN the earth. This IL general
done after the fowls are IN the roost
II given grains In no other way Il
fowls will be eager TO dig them vi
. The amount OF exercise that the fow
! will be compelled to take depends upo
= the depth at which the grain is burie,
P Every poultry keeper has his metho
\ OF feeding and hts individual preferen,
= as TO grains. Corn, wheaty oats al
n most commonly fed. but to these harle
I, may be added, Whole corn is almo,
:, too heavy and too hearty for the fov
on range ana certainly snOulu not !
= fed to those closely confined. Whei
Q at present prices Is almost prohibiti'
= II barley may be used instead.
r Dry mash can be fed economical
q only In hoppers. Table scraps shoul
and In many cases viii, comprise
considerable portion OF the diet,
these are rich. that Is. contain mus
10 starchy matter. the dry mash shouI
e be light or bulky, Table scraps usual
e consist OF pastry. vegetables and mea'
and the amount of each hould /
roughly considered at least in makir
q up the dry mash.
IT usually pays to chop the tab
. waste to n semi-hne state add to tn
y a little bran. corn meal, ground GA
y or a little Of the already mixed d.
mash. After mixing all thorough
e while dry add u little boiling waite
n mix 10 "A moist but crumbly state ar
a feed warm. but not hot. II they a
n fed literally with such a mash Il
fowls will not exercise. Therefor
% when table waste forms a large pa
Of the daily ration II should be fed
~ night rather than in tho morning. II
II fowls will then come from the roos
70 with empty crops, ready 10 rustic Il
h litter or scratch In the earth TO seen
their grain rations.
Where any intensive system OF pou
u try culture In practised two ingredien
are lacking In the ration OF the layii
hen. These are green and animal food
The table waste may supply substitute
q for the green food ana insects that TOW
gather on range. but probably they W
not in a full measure. Besides q
green foods already mentioned. groui