The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-11-02
SUCCESSFUL
POULTRY
RAISING BY
MRS.E. PROUTY
Who Is One Of the Most Successful
Raisers Of Profitable Birds in
South Florida. Article Written BY
Her at the Request Of the Editor,
which Will Be OF Interest To All
Who Keep a Flock.

Since the visit of the young peopl,
who attended the agricultural shor
course held in this city week befor,
fast, and since their visit TO the home
of Mrs. Olive S. Prouty who Is noted
for her success in chicken raising, Sc
many inquiries have been made by
letter along certain lines Of the work
that Mrs. Prouty has been requested
BY us to write an article for publica'
ton. she kindly consented to do so,
and we are sure that the following
from the pen Of Mrs. Prouty will he
found interesting to many Of our
readers. The article says:
1.-THE best remedy for sorehead Is
not to have It all In the flock. After
sorehead is deep seated a complete
cure is doubtful. The reason for this
is the fact that sorehead is constitu
tional not climatic. Permit me to
dlgress to say that FLORIDA in all the
elements to raise pure poultry is the
banner state. 1t Is naturally a eli.
mate for pure birds. We will sum.
marize our methods, which have prov.
en- with us to be most satisfactory.
but do not for moment think that
we can in this space say all that can
be said on this subject.
"In the first place, confine your
stock to pure hoods, Have no
crosses, or mixed bloods, on the prem.
ises. In this respect one brood is as
good as another only let the stock be
pure. Do not breed pullets that
have not INQUIRED, Mate cockerels
with hens. and cocks with pullets.
Work for strong constitutions. Only
a bird suffering with debility will
have sorehehd.
"NOw, assuming that you have a |
hatch from good eggs, do not feed
the chicks nor give them drink for
at least torty-cight hours. For the
first ten days or Two weeks feed clean
any kind during this period. For the
drink use pure fresh water. Very
lne charcoal and as fine grit is to be
placed in dishes easily accessible.
Following this, give the chicks of the
same water used for the flock, that
Is to say, :atio as of one teaspoon.
full Of copperas to a pail Of water.
The feed now is made up Of
ground corn, some crushed oats,
shorts and wheat. In a week or so
the crushed oats can be omitted. Feed
ground corn and wheat sparingly, but
wheat bran and shorts about evenly
mixed can be kept before thelG all
the time. See that they have fine
grits and charcoal. We never use
chick feeds. And above
all things keep the breeders clean.
To prevent dampness and sweating
We keep ON the floor OF the brOOderS
and the brooder houses a depth of
at least an inch Of clean sand. All
droppings can easily he raked out Of
this sand every day with a fine-tooth
rake that is easily made.
From now on the chicks are fed
very much the same as the poultry
hock. Cracked corn, wheat and oats
are the best ra,ions in the world for
poultry. In the noon mash we now
add salt. Mix a teaspOonful Of COM
mon cole in a quart of pure water,
and make as much mash Of wheat
bran and shorts as will crumble nice
ly In the hand. BE careful not to
give too much salt, or to make mash
TOO wet, as it will produce indiges-
non OF course poultry must have
plenty Of green food. To the noon
mash add teaspoOnful of common
soda about three times a week. Sum-
med up we feed in the morning free
ly of dry wheat bran and shorts in
boxes; at noon are given the maShes
IN the evening the flock is fed cracked
corn and wheat. If we are making
meat we increase the corn; II we
are making eggs we give mostly
wheat. II the poultry are penned
we cut green feed, and make 1t just
uamp enough to make wheat bran
suck to 1t, and feed 1t in boxes in
Tue afternoon. Always have plenty
OF fresh water at the door Of the
out.
AT this age we take 1t that no one
VINO has any practical knowledge Of
puitry raising will give the birds
nothing better than trees and fences
,or roosts. The colony houses must
% Kept clean II you will have heal
my birds. Our honses are made
.nh dropping boards about two feet
rom the floor, and the perches about
s'sht Inches above the dropping
''e'as' These are cleaned every
ssOIning and thoroughly busted with
.'1eSed lime. 1t Is a common thing
~ the birds TO enter their houses