Milford chronicle., 1916-05-19

There are many important things t
be considered in the raising of poultr
on restricted areas or where the breede
is somewhat hampered in his operation
owing to the lack of space. The success
or failure Of many man under thes,
conditions is often determined by the
methods he has adopted or the way h'
handles his birds, with reference Il
their care and managemnt.
Probably the most important problem
to be solved in the back yard plant, OF
for that matter on any small plot of
ground devoted to the use of poultry, is
how best to keep the ground pure and
wholesome. In every case where the
ground used by the chickens becomes
impure, the result is a lot of sickly
birds, and this, of course, means many
deaths, which will ultimately spell fail
ure. The main point, then, is to keep
the ground fresh and thus prevent sick
ness among the fowls.
The old world is just filed to over
flowing with a class of "know-it-alls"
and they will argue until blue in the
face that it is impossible to keep chick
ems year after year on the same ground
with any degree of success. To the con-
trary of the claim of these know-it-alls,
| beg to say that it can be done and
most successfully. OF course do not
mean to say that to accomplish this re-
suit one can sit idly down and give the
matter no thought or labor. 1t requires |
labor, but however, it can be done.
This | know from experience, and |
after all, experience is the best teacher |
an ounce of experience is worth
barrel of theory. And if it can be done
for period of six years, as in my case,
it can be done indefinitely.
How then can it be done This is the
question which l would like to answer
for the benefit of those who might be
troubled along this particular line. In
order to keep the ground pure and
Iweet it necessitates frequent turning,
after the application of some form of
)urifyer.
The best thing to use for this purpose,
n my opinion, is lime. 1t is needless
or me to attempt to argue as to the (
'alue of lime for this purpose as your {
wn experience or knowledge must have g
lready established its worth in your S
mind Early in the spring, as soon as C
he frost has left the ground, lime the t
ard or runs with good coating of air
lacked lime, after having given it
borough sweeping and cleaning so as f
D remove the loose and badly decayed g
)p dirt. 81
After applying a reasonably thick
)ating Of lime, sprinkle over this a
)ating of oats, and then spade under.
ANY persons make the mistake of j..
)ading shallow and thus miss the mark !,
r which they have aimed. Spade deep y
e deeper the better, for the deeper ~
~ spade the better and surer will be I.
e results accomplished. After you y
we spaded the whole plot don't think " "
at your work is done. Not so. Now a.
rinkle more oats and rake them well ~
to the loOsened soil. Now turn the !.
wis onto the plot and watch them 90 WI
ter the buried oats with a vengeance.
le lime Will become mixed with the
rth by the scratching and digging of en-
e IoWls, and this will purify it. Or yi'
tier still, If it is possible, keep the crl
'ds penned out of the plot until the tic
IS have sprouted through the ground sh
d attained the height of from two to biz
If inches, when the chickens can be SCI
ned into it. Then see what a de- tht
hted and happy flock of chickens ais
urs really are. bir
after the birds have eaten every
de OF the oats and dug from the loos- 7
ID soil those that may not have as vet
rted to terminate, repeat the opera Sae tne
J, never failing to lime the ground S;s
] before turning it under. This will SnN
p the soil continually sweet and pure. ~ ~
Is a decidedly small task to keep eLie ~,
birds housed while the oats are an .iIi'
wing, particularly if you are using Ieo tSe
open-front style of house-and right tLe tlie
e let me advise that if you are not ~ tue
g this style, adopt it at once, your NJ ~.
eral results will be far greater than ~, u,
J any other kind. you
'lth this style of house your birds
get all the sunshine and fresh air N
they require and which is so essen givi
to their health-this cannot be SUD- busi
1 properly with any other form of
}. If, however, you are unable to
the birds while the oats are taking "
and growing, let them have access
he turned ground which has been OF
ted with lime and oats mixed into Ii
By digging and scratching out the IT.
the birds will receive exercise. ~
h unless they get it in this way, A
must have by access to a good heal
v or other light litter. Ef
me and turn the ground at least cate
a month after the manner above r,
ated and you will find that the of II
used for your fowls can be kept T.,
and wholesome continuously. As'
faithful ground means healthy VI g
tens, and they in turn, mean a good Ba
yield, which after all, is the goal of SYM
imbitions. Try this method and see I'M
IS right, the man who says that it Unit
be done or the one who claims the n
foun
ere is another ironorton+ n,.4.o. =. Tn
der in RAISING cbicIyans @ IN 'aot tbe 6aoL Y. dren
or on small plots of ground which Tn
De i9oked atter II you would have Prov