Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-09
POULTRY YARD NOTES.

, range see to it that the hens have
daily supply of fresh green's, which are
so abundant and cheap at this season.
Essex rape, clover and alfalfa are eH-
cellent for poultry, also lawn clippings,
Much of the green food becomes tough
and unappetizing by the middle of july.
and for that reason many poultrymen
think that II is time lost to place II
before the birds Perhaps the fowls
will not eat the tough grasses. but That
does not prove that they have no craV-
ing for green stuff. 1t is the poultry
mans place to provide more tempting
material, or else grant the fowls liberty
to look for it themselves. Coarse faxed
bran is better than fine bran. which Is
saying a great deal. for bran of any
kind is one of the most valuable ana
economical poultry feeds obtainable. II
should constitute about 90 per cent of
the mash. Ordinarily, white middlings
contain more available nutriment than
brown middling. although both are GOOD.
Don't overlook the fact that fowls re-
quire certain amount of seasoning In
their food Just as do humanS-and in
about the same proportion. A little salt
should always be mixed in the mash
about a handful to a hundred pounds.
1t is said that salt prolonss the life of
the feather, which is equivalent to a
longer period of egg production in the
summer. Mustard is also beneficial in
this respect: it stimulates the appetite.
and thereby DELAYS the melting season.
Never allow fowls to be without water.
consequently thirsty before feeding time.
and then give them a heavy drink after
eating. In so doing, some of the food
may be washed prematurelv into the
giZzard and cause trouble. Keep water
before them at all times, and keep it
as cool and clean as possible.
In the absence of teeth. fowls rely
pf.
in the gizzard for masticating their
food. Obviously, they require plenty of
clean. sharp grit at all times. and. I'M
less the grit is hard and sharn. 1t is
of little value. Oyster shells are also
important and will contribute much Of
the lime required for the shell of the
egg. Whole milk SKINNED milk and
huttermilk are greatly relished by fowls
and may be fed in unlimited quantities
The Tactic acid contained in buttermilk
is exceedingly beneficial to the digestive
system generally. and tends to correct
bowel troubles.
The writer has heard poultry raisers
Indignantly protest that their houses
We're not lousy. This is good news. in
deed. If it is true. for hens and lice
cannot thrive in the same building
This is the season when lice and mites
grow fat and multiply. and unless you
have used a good KILLER freely and
Systematically you will find the vermin
are very much on the job tight,
poorly ventilated, lousy sleeping COM
partment will take more out of the
chicks or hens in one night than you
can put in or on them in week. Moth
ing is more destructive to a heavy egg
yield than vermn-enough saiG: spray,
paint whitewash at regular inter
walls. July is not too early to start to
Gull the undesirable chicks. In almost
every flock there will be found a Ger
tain percentage of runts. those whose
growth was stunted in the brooder
from injuries, malnutrition or other
causes, and from which they seldom re-
cover. II does not pay to bother with
weaklings in the poultry yard. Speci-
mems that do not measure UP to the
proper physical standard had better be
killed for the home table as soon as
possible. 1t means economy in the long
run Runts eat as much their fully
developed companions, yet they have
not the capa city to convert their food
into flesh and feathers: at least not
fast enough to prove profitable. They
will never make desirable broilers, they
are trampled under foot by their
stronger comrades and they are often
sive to look at as members of well
developed flock. Fried or broiled and
served on toast, la quail. they will
make delicious meal for the home
table. beyond which they are not
worth anything. Surplus cockerells
should be marketed early as posi-
BILE in order to obtain the best prices
Broilers bring the highest returns in
May and June, after which there is a
sharp falling off in the price. Very
few farmers hatch early enough to
have broilers before the middle of July.
consequently until this time the greater
part Of the supply comes from broiler
specialists and from the egg farms
where surplus males are mark eted for
table poultry. Once the general farmer
commences to ship his spring chickens
in large quantities prices are lowered
to figures that offer a very small profit.
AS soon as the sexes can be deter
mined, and among the Mediterranean
classes, such the Leghorns and Mi
norcas, this is pretty easy to do al six
weeks Of age the males should be seq
regated and fattened in pen by them
selves. This plan has several adj
vanfages: II relieves the congestion in
the brooder coops or colony houses, and
aids the development of the pullets, in
asmuch as they viii not be annoyed
by the bullying ways of the cockerels
Then, too. If partly confined, the cock
erels can be forced for table meat and
their flesh will be Of much superior
quality. Chickens that are allowed
free range and not penned UP for a
couple of weeks and fattene5 are al
most certain to have angular carcasses
when dressed, and their flesh is very