The Nevada County picayune., 1916-03-30
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WORK
No. o. Some 4 B C's on Poultry
 Raising.
By H. K. Sanders, Specialist for Clui
 Work


 The following table shows the rela- tive efficiency of fowls in the utiliza- tion of food as compared with other livestock, and the value of the mar amount of digestible matter
 One hundred pounds of disestible matter will produce:
 139 pounds milk, worth 1 12 cents per pound. $20S.
 1s5 pounds steer. worth cents per pound, 95c.
 13s pounds sheep, worth cents per pound. s3c.
 3O4 pounds pork, worth ' cents per pound. s2.1S.
 19s pounds fowl, worth 12 cents per pound. s2.85
 2s7 pounds broiers, worth Is cents per pound, S4.30.
 196 pounds eggs, leverage laying), worth 21 cents per dozen. s2.74.
 30 pounds eggs, (heavy laying) worth Il cents per dozen, s4.2o.
 The cost of production is greatly reduced by the fact that a large part of the farm poultry ration is made up from the gleaning of the fields and feed lots which otherwise would be wasted.
 In raising poultry special emphasis should be laid on the importance of using pure bred or standard fowls, for there is no question that they will show a higher average production. The poultry keeper who has mongrels or a mixed flock should not attempt 10 make a complete change in one season. He may start with eggs for matching or with 8 few day-old chicks, and in the second year can have a small breeding flock from which all
 Regardless of the breed or the breeding of the fowls, the maintenance of constitutional vigor is of the great est importance. Lack of attention to health and vigor of the fowls Is the cause of many difficulties experienced with the average poultryman. Fowls should be fed and handled properly throughout the winter and spring, and also have exercise, and in well, but not too well ventilated house.
 Quite often the fowls in the rural districts have their roosts in locust tree. or some other tree, where the cold winds chill their bodies, and where the rain and snow get clear sweep at them. The food consumed by the poultry goes to keep the body warm. and where they are made 10 take the rough weather 1t takes all the food they can get to keep them warm and none can be converted into eggs. A good shelter closed on the north. east and west sides is impera- tive. Winter comfort to the hen means simply protection from storm extreme cold and dampness, plenty or fresh air and sunshine and sufficient amount of floor space.
 A damp poultry house is hopeless from the standpoint of winter egg pro duction. Keep a good cover on the house and keep a dry floor.
 Fowls need variety of feed, and the different grains used should be correctly proportioned in order to get the best results. and at the same time keep the fowls in good health Corn and corn alone, will not make hens lay as they should. Corn makes them fat. Feed a variety of grains for best results Animal food in some form should be provided in all poultry ra- tions. and may be supplied In the form of butcher scraps, green-cut bone or commercial meat scraps. On the farm rabbits. squirrels or other meat killed in the woods, such as birds. etc, will help to furnish the animal food that hens need to make them lay.
 Usually the hen on the range under farm conditions will not need crushed oyster shells, yet it is cheap, and it is we'll 10 keep oyster shells well crushed before them all the time in box as they need the lime to form egg shell,
 Scraps, however, should never be fed in sloppy condition and nothing should be fed that is mouldy or sour because it is liable to cause digestive troubles. They should be supplied regularly with green food and this, no doubt, will be supplied from table scraps such ss lettuce cabbage leaves, apple and potato parings Plan now to provide winter picking for the poul fry on thp farm bV sowing A large patch of grain next September See that the mongrels are weeded out secure good laying strain, pro vide a good warm shelter, and use .nuttav,. pracaufippc