The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1915-04-03
HINTS TO SUCCESS
IN POULTRY CULTURE
BY j. H. McFAUL, Jr.
(All Rights Reserved.)

not the easiest thing IN the world, by
any means, although many are of the
opinion that all one has to do is to buy
the stock and proceed to reap the pro-
fits. That is, indeed, mistaken idea,
and one has only to try it to be con-
WINGED of the fact.
As this idea is most prevalent
among novices or those who are VEN
turing into the poultry raising game
for the first time, allow me to say that
there are many essentials necessary,
to the successful raising of poultry,
either on a large or small scale.
Among the long list of essentials is an
abundance of pure, fresh air. This is
indeed the cheapest of the fundamen-
tails, yet how many are engaged in the
business who neglect to supply it to
the birds!
1t matters little whether the fowls
are large or small, or of whatever
breed-to keep them in a healthy con-
dition it is absolutely necessary to
supply pure, fresh air in good guam
tity. Think how unhealthy it must
be for bird to rest upon roost at
night when the coop is filled with foul
or impure air!
If you have never thought of it in
this way before, compare your sleep
ing quarters with those of the fowl
In this day and generation, when
scientists all over the world are harp
ing upon fresh air treatment for many
diseases of the human body, you would
not think of going to sleep at night
without first opening window, in
order that you might not be compelled
to breathe over and over during the
night the unwholesome air contained
in the bedroom.
You want pure, fresh air; so does
the chicken and if it does not get it
its health will be impaired. Thus it is
not at its best nor viii it be of much
value to you. Pure air is essential
number one.
ESSENTIAL No. 2-Sunshine. This
like fresh air, is cheap, but its pres
ence is absolutely necessary. 1t should
be your constant thought when you
are constructing the coop. The quar-
tiers of Miss Hen should be built so
that the suns rays will penetrate the
room, because sunshine is an excellent
germ destroyer as well as being of
vital Importance to the fowls them
selves.
ESSENTIAL No. 3-Clean, Fresh
Water. Fowls are heavy drinkers. I'm
like the inebriate, its drinking is con-
fined to water, and this should be as
pure and as fresh as is possible. This
essential should be supplied in liberal
quantities at all times, as the greater
portion of the egg is water. 1t should
also be kept within easy reach of the
fowls, as it is no use to supply it II
the birds can't have free access to It.
ESSENTIAL No. keep Down
Lice This is perhaps one of the hard
est problems which the poultryman
has to combat. Keeping down the lice
does not, as many think, mean the
entire eradication of the vermin, but
does mean to keep both the hens and
the house reasonably free from lice.
Many poultrymen contine their acti-
vities along this line, keeping the hens
free from lice, and as a consequence
little or no attention is paid to the
house. Let me say right here, you
will be led a merry chase and all your
efforts will 90 for naught if you at
tempt to keep the hens free from lice
and allow the coop to go unnoticed.
Better save your labor and let the lice
eat 'em up, for they will do it anyhow,
of you follow the wrong plan. Keep
ing down the lice means keeping both
the birds and the house reasonably
free from this vermin.
ESSENTIAL No. Feeding. This
is, perhaps, the most difficult PROPOSE
ton with which the breeder, particu-
larry the beginner, has to contend; yet
it is not, after ALL so hard to master
if judiciously and properly done.
There are many and divers ways to
feed for the attainment of good re-
suits, and these will be treated sep
arately in later issues of this paper.
Almost every poultryman follows
method of his own in feeding, each
one feeling sure that his way is the
best. Possibly it is, but be that as it
may, there are certain safe rules to
follow in feeding which produce the
best results, without waste. One
learns the most about feeding from
practical experience, of course, but
the beginner will do well to heed the
experience of others and profit there
by.
ESSENTIAL No. 6-Proper Hous-
ing. This is almost as important as