Evening star., 1915-12-26

vessels, that they nave ample ous,
baths and that they get plenty OF green
feed in some form. Unless the hens are
given these things the egg basket may
be expected to remain empty.
It is not enough to throw lot OF
grain out on the ground for the mems
to pick up. They may have more tnai'
enough. as far as quantity Is concern
ed, and still be underfed on those ele
lments that go to maintain vlgor ana
health and that make heavy egg yields
possible.
Profitable feeding is something every
farmer and poultryman must learn.
without it the most vigorous chicks
that were ever hatched could not de-
velop into standard. mature birds. Ihe
most difficult period in feeding starts
with the baby chicks. If stunted when
small, it Is "'runty'' forever; if fed and
cared for properly when young 1t can
rustic for itself to limited extent
later.
The baby chick should never be fed
until forty-eight hours old. and then
mash of coarse bran and charcoal mixed
with hard boiled eggs is all it will need
for two or three days. After the first
few days it may be fed mixed grain five
times daily, and the mash of bran and
eggs three times daily. A good chick
ration may be had by mixing ten pounds
cracked wheat, ten pounds cracked
oats. The dry mash is made up of ten
pounds bran. ten pounds shorts, five
pounds cornmeal, five pounds meat
scraps and two and one-half pounds
charcoal. Feed sour milk If available,
giving chicks all they will consume.
With the general exception of well
cared for open-range ffocks, the condi-
tions under which practically all fowls
are kept result in a constant tendency
toward the lowering Of the birds con-
stitutional vigor.
One of the largest poultrymen uses
gas pipes instead of the usual wooden
fixtures to support his roosts, and
thus makes them almost entirely free
from mites and other parasites which
The pipe is bent as shown in the illus
tration and to hold the roosts in
place holes are bored at proper inter-
walls, through which bolts are inserted.
projecting far enough above the pipe
| to hold the roosts in position. The
roosts are made as usual and are laid
on the pipe without fastening, thus
making it easy to remove them for
cleaning. etc. The pipes need not be
over three-fourths of an inch in diam
eter. and will be found to be one of
| the most satisfactory supports for
roosts yet devised.
To obtain good results from a flock of
poultry during the winter all houses
and coops should be put in good condi-
tion, only healthy fowls placed in the
buildings. and good care given to the
poultry. The houses should be thor
oughly cleaned. disinfected and made
| tight for winter. If the house has
dirt floor 1t is well to remove three or
| four inches from the top and substi-
tute fresh gravel or sand If the floor
and dirt and put in four or five inches
of fresh straw or litter. Be sure that
the house is tight on three sides and
| that there Is no chance for draft to
placed in draft during the fall and
winter. colds are sure to develop, which
may result in roup and other troubles
The south side. or front. of the poul-
! try house may be left comparatively
open. but should be under control, so
| that the openings may be closed grad
ually as the weather becomes cold
Have muslin curtains in the front of
the house, or leave a window partly
open even on the coolest nights to al
low some ventilation in the house
| Fowls will stand considerable cold air
provided it is dry. and ventilation will
keep the air thoroughly dry in the
house.
The pullets should be brought in off
the range and put in winter quarters,
but before they are mixed with the
| older fowls be sure that the hens are
|
| punched in some way as to distin-
| gufsh between the pullets and the
| hens. In this way the older stock may
| be culled out whenever it appears de-
| sirable and the young hens kept for
| further laying. Gull the chickens which
are brought into the laying house care
| fully and fatten and market all chick
ems which are small, poorly developed
or in poor condition. These small, poor
| ly developed chickens are apt 10 catch.
| cold If put in with the other poultry
and develop diseases which quickly
spread through the flock. Market all
surplus cockerels or older male birds
which are not desired for breeding or
not wanted for a later market.
| Feed the grain in a deep litter on the
| floor and make the hens exercise for
| all. of their grain. The mash may be
| fed either wet or dry, and should be
| SO regulated that the fowls will get
| about equal parts of mash and of the
| scratch grains. 1t is necessary to give
the fowls plenty to eat to get good re-
suits, but the birds should always be
eager for each feed In cold weather
| feed about one-third of the scratch
grains in the morning and two-thirds
| at night. In this way the hens are
| forced to exercise more than If they
receive all the grain they desire at the
morning feed. Scratch grains, mash or
ground grains, animal protein, green
| feed, grit and shell should be supplied
| in the winter. A good scratch mixture
may be made Of equal parts. by weight,
| of cracked corn, wheat and oats, and
a mash may be made of two parts
cornmeal and one part each of wheat
bran, wheat middlings and beef scrap.
Green feed, such as cabbages, mangel
wurzel beets, cut alfalfa or sprouted
oats, should be supplied to replace the
green feed which the fowls have been
securing in the fields. and beef scrap,
skim milk, cut green bone or some sim
tIar feed is needed to replace the bugs
which the fowls have been getting
on the range. Beef scrap feed of this
nature is very essential in securing
good supply Of eggs during the winter
months.
Clean the dropping boards at least
| once a week. and spray the roosts with
kerosene or some commercial prepara-
ton for killing mites once a month
during the winter. Have good sup
piy Of sand or dry dirt on hand to use
on the dropping boards during the
| winter.
II any of the birds develop colds. put
as much potassium permanganate as
| will remain on the surface of a dime
| into a gallon of water and keep this
| mixture in their drinking water for
| several days, or until the symptoms of
1