Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-14
POULTRY MANAGEMENT.
list Prize in Christian County,

L
fowls and learn thoroughly the bust
ness before making large investments
| Chickens may be classified as foul
kinds, egg breeds, meat breeds, gen
eral purpose breeds and fancy or orna
mental breeds. The egg breed con
sists Of the various varieties Of Leg
horns and Minorcas. The meat breed
includes the Brahmas, Cochins and
Langshans. The ornamental breeds
Include the Sultta!ns, Silkies, Frizzles
land Bantams. A good example Of
the general purpose breeds are the
Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, 0rp-
ingtons and Rhode Island Reds.
Pure bred fowls are more profitable
than common stock, because they are
good layers, good mothers. They
are of a larger size, and produce more
meat than common fowls. The best
breed for the farm is the Wyandotte.
They make the best mothers. They
are larger and therefore produce more
meat. They are far superior to any
other fowl in egg producing.
We cannot hope TO have strong,
healthy chickens unless the houses
are built so that they can get plenty
of sunshine and are properly venti-
lated. There are two plans on which
we may build chicken houses. The
colony plan consists of small houses
placed far enough apart so that the
little focks will have free range. The
continuous house plan consists of
separate pens under one roof, open
ing directly into hall way. There
are several ways under these plans
by which we can build our houses.
They should be built to suit the vari-
Gus conditions. The house should be
built on an elevation of land, where
the soil can be kept dry by draining.
II should face the south, because sum
shine and warmth are necessary to
good poultry raising. Yards should
be used throughout the year. If pos
sible double yards, for then one may
rotate green crops.
Little chicks should not be fed I'M
der two days. There is enough food
in their little stomachS to last them
this long. Hard boiled eggs with dry
bread crumbs is excellent for the first
meal. After they are weaned they
can be fed whole wheat or cracked
corn. Ground bone is also good for
them and plenty Of green stuff all the
time. While hens are melting you
should withhold some of the feed for
about two weeks. This reduces the
weight of the fowls and stops egg
production and then feed heavily on
something suitable for building up
the system and formation of feathers.
While hens are laying it is well to
feed them equal parts of crackep
corn, wheat and oats scattered in the
litter Feed the setting hen plenty of
corn, oats or wheat. Hens should be
given an abundance of fresh water
two times a day.
Eggs for Matching should be kept
at cool temperature, so or 60 de-
grees F. 1t is best not to keep them
longer than two weeks. Hens should |
be set in a good roomy nest of straw,
hay or excelsior, where nothing can
disturb them. Hens should be kept |
quiet while the eggs are Matching.
The hens and chickens should not be
moved to the brood coops for at least !
twenty-four hours after Matching is
over. The simplest coop is common
A shaped coop. 1t is quickly made
and can be made either with or with
out floor, Without a floor is pre-
ferable in summer time, where the
drainage is good. The coop should
be about 27x20 in. 1t should be locat-
ed on an elevation of land and should
be moved at least once a week to a
green spot. The hen should be pow
dered at least once a week with a
good insect powder. The dust bath
is very necessary for hens, especially
if they are bothered with lice or mites.
The brood coop should be cleaned at
least once a week to keep free from
mites. If mites are found in the coop
il should be thoroughly cleaned and
sprayed with kerosene oil or crude
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