Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-04-09
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WORK
No. 5. Some A B C's on Poultry
 Raisinc.
By II. K. Sanders. Specialist for Club
 Work

D,
 Work
 The following table shows the rela- tive efficiency of fowls in the utiiza- tion of food as compared with other livestock, and the value of the mar ketable products secured from q given amount of digestible matter.
 One hundred pounds of digestible matter will produce:
 139 pounds milk, worth 1 1-2 cents per pound, $2.0S.
 13.5 pounds steer. worth cents per pound, 95c.
 139 pounds sheep, worth cents per pound, S3c.
 BOA pounds pork. worth cents per pound. $2.13.
 19.6 pounds fowl, worth 12 cents per pound, $2.35.
 2S7 pounds broilers, worth 15 cents per pound $4.30.
 1916 pounds eggs, leverage laying), worth 2l cents per dozen. $2.74.
 30 pounds eggs. (heavy laying). worth 21 cents per dozen, $4.20.
 The cost of production is greatly reduced by the fact that 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 to make complete change in one season. He may start with eggs for matching or with a few day-Old chicks and in the second year can have a small breeding flock from which all or most of his chicks may be matched.
 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 a well, but not too well ventilated house.
 Quite oAten the fowls in the rural districts have their roosts in a locust tree, or some other tree, where the cold winds chill their bodies, and where the rain and snow get a clear sweep at them. The food consumed by the poultry goes to keep the body warm, and where they are made to take the rough weather it takes all the food they Can get to keep them wasm ard 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 of fresh air and sunshine and sufficient amount of floor space.
 damp poultry house is hopeless from the standpoint of winter egg pro, duction. Keep 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 well to keep oyster shells well crushed before them all the time in a box as they need the lime to form egg shell.
 Scraps, however should never be fed in a 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. nc doubt will be supplied from table scraps such as lettuce, cabbage leaves apple and potato parings. Plan now so provide winter picking for the poul. try on the farm by sowing large patch of grain next September See that the mongrels are weeded out, secure a good laying strain, pro vide good warm shelter, and use