Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-08

sene when their presence is discov-
cred. They gather in clusters of few
mites or perhaps hundreds. They can
then be readily seen, The sides of the
pens are also sprayed with hot or cold
whitewash. Naturally hot whitewash
is more effective in destroying the
mites.
! It is poor policy to let older fowls
and growing chickens run together,
and should be avoided as much as pos
sible.
Use of Scratching Sheds
On small plants 1t is good practice
to use the scratching pens for accom-
modating the growing chickens. I al
ways do so every summer. A tempor-
ary Dashboard, with a four-foot wire
netting on top, is used to divide the
scratching pen into two parts. One
part is utilized for a roosting place,
the other part is used as a feeding
place. This arrangement keeps the
younger chickens from the fowls. BY
so doing the young birds can get all
the feed they require for proper
growth and development.
When the chickens are old enough
so that their sex is readily determined,
the cockerels are separated from the
pullets and penned by themselves. BY
separating the sexes, they can be fed
IOT Iile purpose Intended. WlIn my
chickens, the cockerelS are fed for a
broiler or roaster trade, while the pull
lets are specially developed for Fall.
and winter egg production.
When the chickens are large enough
to hold their own with the older fowls
the scratching pens may be cleaned
and made ready for winter work. In
some such way as this, the small plant
can be utilized to the best advantage
in every particular. 1t may take a
little time to do this but it is time we'll
spent in the interest of healthy, vigor-
Gus, well-nourished stock. And this
is the kind that pays a good profit on
the investment.
Proper Feeding Is Essential
Correct feeding is important in
summer. In hot weather chickens
should not be overfed. At the same
time, they require plenty of the right
kinds of feed. 1t may be of some SER
vice to give my own method of hand
ling growing chickens.
Early in the morning the chickens
are given a small quantity of scratch
feed. A good quality of feed, one con-
tanning variety of grains, is always
chosen. About eight O'Clock they are
given a crumbling mash consisting of
two parts by measure of bran and one
each of middlings, ground oats. and
meat meal. The latter, however, is
fed only three times a week in the
mash. The whole is moistened with
sour milk or water. The wastes from
the table IRE also mixed with the
mash. Care is taken not to make the
mash too wet and soggy, and only
enough is fed that the chickens will
clean up readily. It too much mash
is given. and it is not eaten up clean,
it is apt to sour in hot weather, and
this would be likely to produce bowel
| trouble.
AS accessories to the mash, a hand
full of ground sulphur is added twice
a week, and once d week the LIQUID
used to wet the mash is slightly salted
These ingredients have a tendency to
keep the blood pure and the chickens
in sound health. Plenty of green stuff
in the form of lawn cuttings, weeds,
ETC., and abundance of fresh water are
always supplied.
At noon, except on very hot DAYS,
the chickens are given a small guam
tity of scratch feed. On hot days the
grain feed is omitted. In it's place
! some lawn cuttings or clover is given
with fresh, cold water. In this mat
ter the poultry keeper must use some
judgment. If the chickens on hot
days seem to be enjoying the shade,
which should be provided, they are
better left unfed at noon. BY evening
they will be quite hungry, and this is
good indication of proper care
For the last meal at night, the
! chickens are given a full ration of
scratch feed with which some addi-
tional wheat is mixed. Wheat is a
high protein feed and produces bone
and flesh. 1t is one OF the best feeds
for proper development, being in itself
almost a balanced ration.
During the summer months growing
chickens should have as free a range
as possible. II this cannot be had the
pens should be we'll provided with
shade. Fresh water should be given
at least three times a day. II is ad-
visable to add a little bicarbonate of
soda to the water in summer. This
has tendency to counteract any acid
ity in the crop, which is likely to oc-
cur ii growing chickens are overfed.
1t Is better to feed more sparingly on
hot days than at other times. The
poultry keeper should watch the
weather.
Importance of Good Food
During the summer months, when
chickens are expected to grow rapidly,
the chickens should be fed corn more
sparingly. This is carbohydrate feed
which develops fat rather than flesh.
| One of the functions of fat is to pro-
duce warmth, and this is not requir-
ed so much in summer as in winter
| For growing chickens, therefore. it is
good policy to reduce corn to the min
imum in all rations during July, Au-