Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-02
Poultry Yard Notes.

Proper care of the growing chicks
and the latest babies coming from the
incubators requires most Of the poul-
tryman's attention at this time. The
oldest of the chicks. Matched early in
March, or even earlier. are almost of
frying size by this time, while the
babies are, or should be. lusty. vigor-
Gus balls of down, eager to investi-
gate the big out of doors and with ap-
petites apparently Unsuitable AS the
weather grows warmer more and more
care must be exercised In feeding the
hsby chicks as warm weather and i'm
proper feeding make combination
that often results in heavy losses. For
the first week the baby chicks should
be fed three or four times day, giving
them only what they will clean up in
five minutes or so. After that feed
three times a day. little more lib
orally. Chicks that have been properly
carried along to the age of three to
four weeks are practically safe. as far
as the feeding question Is concerned.
1t is time to separate the sexes IN
the oldest matches, especially II the
chicks are Leghorns or any or the
ouick-maturing breeds. No good Te-
suits follow when the young cockerels
are permitted to remain with the pull
lets after the cockerels begin TO snow
the red in combs and wattles Keep
the sexes separate and both cockerels
and pulletS will do better.
Fertility in the Matching eggs is highest
right now, and Matching operations should
continue for the next three or four weeks
at least Especially is this true if hens
are depended on, rather than incubators.
and If the biddies are permitted to brood
the chicks. Matching operations should
be so planned as to terminate not later
for some reason or other chicks Matched
in June do not do as well as those
Matched month earlier or month later
In setting the hens, be sure, first, that
they really want to set Try them out
with a few nest eggs. and If they remain
on the job for two or three days 1t Will
be safe to put real eggs under them. Pre-
pare the nests in secluded places, where
the sitting hens will not be annoyed by
the intrusion of other hens Make the
nests of clean straw. and If it is possible
place a big handful of tobacco stems
under the straw; this helps to keep mites
and other insects away. Dust the hens
with reliable insect powder. giving
them a careful going over. and working
the powder clear into the skin. Pay spe-
cial attention to the fun OF the abdomen,
around the tail. under the wings and on
IN.
week lift her off the nest and give her
another busting. When the eggs are
placed under the hens it is we'll to dip
them In a formalin solution, one part of
formalin to fifteen or twenty parts OF
water 1t is also a good idea to sift in
sect powder into the nest material. At
the beginning of the third week give the
hens a final busting with the insect pow
der See that the hens come off the nests
every day for feed and water and for
few minutes Of exercise; otherwise they
are likely to die while sitting and ruin
a clutch of eggs just about ready to hatch
Whole corn and oats. with a little green
feed, and plenty of charcoal and grit,
should be provided for the sitters, with
clean, fresh water.
When the chicks are out the hen will
remain on the nest, lowering them, for
twenty -four hours or so. After that time
the hens and chicks must be removed
from the nests and given small run
otherwise many chicks will be trampled
and killed even by the most careful
mother hen.
Keep the broods separated as far
as possible. giving each hen and her
brood coop and runway to them
selves. 1t frequently happens that
even the most motherly of hens will
attack and kill chicks of other broods |
that may intrude in their runs. and
if the chicks are Matched from valua-
ble eggs this often means q distinct
loss to the poultryman.