Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-03

with colored feathers.
that yard that supports growing
vegetables will be healthful.
A tender forage crop which will
answer the double purpose of purify
ing the soil and absorbing and turn
ing to account the fertilizing value of
the fowls droppings should be sown
This crop will be soon consumed or
uprooted and, therefore, 1t is advan-
tageous to have at least two yards for
each flock. In this way green food
is supplied constantly with the least
possible labor For quick growth, SOW
oats or millet, although almost any
small grain Will answer the purpose
1t is well to SOW winter rye or wheat
late in the summer in one of the
yards; SO that supply of green food
may be had early in the Spring.
Exercise Essential. to Health
The method of feeding should be
such that the fowls are compelled to
take a normal amount of exercise.
Exercise is essential to the health of
the hen, but if the hen has plenty to
eat she has little inducement to exer-
else. Unless she is in the best of
health she will not lay, hence the
need of exercise. Feeding small grains
in litter is the most general pracice
To feed sparingly at morning and
noon and give full meal at night is
a good rule. Exercise of the most
vigorous kind may be induced by bury
ing the grains in the earth. This is
generally done after the fowls are on
the roosts. If given grains in no
other way, the fowls will be eager to
dig them up. The amount of exercise
that the fowls will be compelled to
dc j. IL
the grain is buried.
Every poultrykeeper has his method
of feeding and his individual prefer
ence as to grains. Corn, wheat, oats
are most commonly fed, but to these
barley may be added. Whole corn is
almost too heavy and too hearty for
the fowl on range and certainly should
not be fed to those closely confined.
Wheat at present prices is almost pro-
hibitive and barley may be used in
stead.
Dry mash can be fed economically
only in hoppers. Table scraps should,
and in many cases will, comprise a.
considerable portion of the diet IF
these are very rich-that is, contain
much starchy matter, the dry mash
should be light or bulky. Table scraps
usually consist of pastry, vegetables
and meats, and the amount of each
should be roughly considered, at least
II.
1t usually pays to chop the table
waste to a semif1ne state; add to this
a little bran, cornmeal, ground oats,
or a little of the already mixed dry
mash. After mixing all thoroughly.
while dry, add little boiling water.
mix to moist but crumbly state, and
feed warm. but not hot. If they are
fed literally with such mash, the
fowls will not exercise. Therefore,
when table waste forms a large nart
of the daily ration, it should be fed
at night rather than in the morning.
The fowls will then come from the
roosts with empty crops, ready to rus
tie the litter or scratch in the earth
to secure their grain rations.
| Grain and Animal Foods
| Where any intensive system of
poultry culture is practiced two in
gradients are lacking in the ration of
the laying hen. These are green and
supply substitutes for the green food
and insects that fowls gather on range
but probably they will not in a full
meature. Besides the green foods al
ready mentioned, ground alfalfa or
| clover may be added to the mash or
fresh vegetables may be used. How
| ever, the greatest deficiency Is most
likely to occur in the supply of ami
NAL food. A substitute for this de-
| ficiency is found in beef scraps when
well rendered and wholesome: cut
green bone, fed sparingly when sweet;
milk. good in any form, If CHEAP; and
other preparations easily obtained.
During the warm weather, especially
| If a male bird is kept in the flock, eggs
should be collected two or three times
daily, as many hens are broody at this
time. The germs of eggs left under
these hens are likely to start More
over. heat quickly causes the eggs to
deteriorate by enabling the bacteria
to multiply rapidly.
Care of Young Chicks
On a backlot or in confined area
the care of young chicks is a problem
that is not nearly as easily solved as
the care of grown birds. Pasture not
runs, is what a chicken needs to be
grown economically as we'll as health
lily. Therefore, duplicate natural con-
ditions as nearly as possible, by COM
pelling exercise as with grown fowls
and furnish substitutes for the green
foods and insects.
To be entirely rid of rats, a good
cat must be kept. When the neighbor-
hood is overrun with rodents. every
means of prevention must be used.
Grain must be kept in ratproof con-
tainers and fed in ratproof hoppers.
Starve the rats out and they will dis
appear. To overfeed in the litter
means meal or more for the rats.
Put the chickhouses away from
other buildings and raise the coops
above the ground sufficiently high to
let the light underneath. No rat will
stay there. To get a nonchicken eat
ing 'cat. raise one or more kittens with
the chickens Poisons may be used
by placing them under wire cages so