Evening star., 1916-01-02
Poultry Yard Notes.

Poultry Yard Notes.
Maximum results cannot be expected
of the layers during the winter season
unless the hens are fed ration con-
tanning a relatively high percentage
of protein. That is to say. the fowls
during the winter when restricted 10
the houses and when the summer sup
ply of bugs. worms, etc, is cut OH
must be supplied with animal 1000 IN
| some other form. Experiments con-
Quoted at the Missouri University ex-
pertinent farm recently show conciu-
| sively that beef scrap and sour milk
are the two forms in which protein
may be supplied most advantageously.
| The hens used in the experiments
referred to were separated into tnree
| small flocks. kept in separate houses
| the number in the focks being equai.
| All of the hens were fed corn all the
time, wheat part of the time, and in
addition ground grain rations OF pran'
| middlings and corn meal.
| In addition to this regular ration the
hens in one pen were given a ration
of good commercial beef scrap ,and
those in one other pen were fed all
the sour milk they would consume
| The hens were all of the same age
| and breed.
| The hens that were fed only the reg
| ular ration in a given period layed
| 500 eggs. The hens that received
| ration of beef scrap in addition to the
| regular feed laid ISIS eggs in the
same period. Those that had the reg
ular grain ration with the sour mix
laid 1926 eggs. The test period be
gan January j, 1914, and enoeo Iuhe
1, 1914.
! The quantity of beef scrap fed to
the hens in pen No 2 was sixty pounds,
costing $3.50. The hens in this pen
l,~v In
No. 1. fed only grain and ground grain.
The hens in penn No. 8 laid 625 eggs
more on their sour milk and grain
ration than those fed only grain.
A good preventive and treatment for
roup follows: Magnesium sulphate, ten
ounces: magnesium oxide. one ounce;
sulphate of iron. two ounces; grouno
ginger. two ounces. and sulphur. three
ounces Give one tablespoonful in
moist mash to twelve birds each morn
ing for three mornings and discontinue
till needed.
Farmers who have plenty of beets
will find that they make excellent food
for laying hens. 1t gives them green
food for which they crave and makes a
variety of food. Hens become tired of
the same food day after day, and if you
have beets give them some every few
days. They will eat them cooked or
raw. If you feed them raw drive
large nail in the side of the coop and
stick the beet on this. If fed cooked
mix them with the mash, as this will
absorb much of the moisture.
Never discard a good breeding fowl
so long as it keeps in good breeding
condition.
Egg eating is a bad and expensive
habit, but it seems natural for the hen
to crave the material needed to form
successfully
lowed for years is to scald mixture
of one pint ground oyster shells and
eight quarts of any grain mixture be-
ing used at the time. The egg eating
stops right away. but as precaution
gather the eggs frequently for few
days so there will be no temptation to
the hens. The plan is little expense
and no extra trouble. Many have a
so the hens can help themselves. The
above plan is better because the hen
is obliged to take in some of the shells
in her food.
The watchful man has the least
trouble with sickness among his
fowls.
. One of the finest helps in the winter
poultry business is dust for the birds
to work in when the days are cold
Poultry can be made profitable on
elects it is simply throwing away
money.
What is especially needed in, the sue
cessful handling of poultry in this cli-
mate is house in which. when the
kept comfortable and where they will
not suffer from frozen combs and
wattles and get out of condition.
Freezing of the combs when the hens
are laying will retard egg production
at once and will often cause them to
cease laying altogether. and the best
care and feeding will not avail to
bring them back on paying basis
for a long time See to il, therefore,
that the hens do not get a setback in
very severe weather. Give them a lit
tie extra attentiSn at such times. See
that all openings are closed during
the storm and give a warm meal on
very cold mornings, and especially be
sure that their drinking water be not
frozen. for if frozen it is not available
for their needs.
When fowls are penned up one of the
first things they will miss is grit. See
to it that the grit box is always sup
piled with grinding material.
One days neglect of water will cause
the egg yield to fall off for two or
three days afterward.
The most common type of crop
bound is most likely to occur among
young birds that have had insufficient
green feed and have as a result at
tempted to swallow cabbage rib.
tough blade of grass some other
bulky article. which has obstructed
the outlet of the crop and has finally
become so impacted, together With
other food. that the mass presses on
the windpipe or fermentation sets in
and induces a form of poisoning. This
type of crop bound is usually easily
recognized. as a moments careful mas
saying of the crop will locate the Of
Tending matter.
The treatment usually prescribed is
an injection of castor oil into the crop,
followed by massage and an effort to
remove the contents through the
mouth. However. this is matter of
some difficulty, and often because of
the size or shape of the offending mat
ter is nothing less than impossible.
In such case there is but one rem
edy-a surgical operation. If the bird
is vigorous one. a pound or more in
weight, the operation is not difficult
nor very risky.
Preferably. one person should hold
the bird while another performs the
operation. The light should be good
and the air fresh and clean to lessen
the danger of infection. The instru-
rnents needed are very sharp knife or
Il t. -