Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-22
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~, LIZZIE O TEIQr1AS ~
JUST ABOUT POULTRY

81 am sending a stamp, and I want
you to please tell me when to leave of
part of the feed in order to make hens
moult quicker. 1 kept up the feed last
year and mine did not lay as many eggs
before Christmas as they should have
laid. I know that eggs are going to be
a good price this fall and 1 want my
hens to be right on the Job"
This woman shows that she has the
right idea about her hens. One cannot
expect hens to lay out of season with
out help. The hen. in her wild state
laid like the birds and II Is only by
birds and 1t is only by years and years
of careful attention that she has attain
ed her present fine reputation Even In
the time Of the Roman empire there
were hens, and peacocks must have been
more plentiful than now for peacocks
brains made a royal dish for feasts. A
baked peafowl. the hen especially, Is
delicious. but one does not often have
such a toothsome morseL
L suppose that many of the poultry
raisers on the farms are beginning to
must we plan, but We must begin right
now to put those plans into execution
1t is not too late TO plant a pea patch,
nothing makes hens lay like the regular
cornfield, or cow peas.
If the hens can have the run OF the
patch it will be much better for them.
But If you are not able to do that,
even If you must buy them you, should
feed them peas and oats in the fall.
Right now 1 am giving the hens that
run outside one pint of feed for twenty
hens, night and morning. 1 take 1t early
in the morning to a green spot In the
grove and let them scratch for that one
pint. They are such creatures OF habit
that they would stay around the usual
feeding place till noon If did not give
them something. Then in the afternoon
when 1 go to feed the little chickens 1
throw the hens a little oats that has
been dampened all day, mixed with just
as much bran as the moisture will wet,
and a handful of epson salts is always
put in that moist oat feed. All of this
month and at least half next month
will find them treated to sulphur, ep-
som salts, and the half rations. Then
shall begin to boil at least two quarts
of peas to mix with the evening meal of
oats and bran twice a week. The other
times in the evening they will get mil
let or sorghum seed, cracked corn or
mixed feed of course they get quantity
Of green stun every day. The cool days
in August should make them drop their
feathers almost at once, and by the end
of that month, If you feed them on
strengthening food they will begin to
lay. BY October you should have eggs
to set, and the October chicks Will be
fine spring layers.
ho a ~ ~ fDTkAVS
dying 1 think the turkey prices will be
double what the people had to pay last
year. 1t must be- the cool mornings and
the scarcity of insects. Usually at this
time of year one can see swarmS or hop
ping and flying creatures in the grass or
stubble, but 1t has not been so this
year. The chilling winds and strange
variations of temperature have retarded
the grasshoppers. Let US hope that the
boil weevil will also suffer. Cotton that
1 have seen, though 1t Is young, Is look
ing better than was expected The low
average in acres gives the farmers fine
chance to keep it cleans and through this
valley 1 believe that most of them are
working six full days in the week.
Eggs are 80 cents q dozen now, and
there will be several rises before No
vember unless every home doubles the
number of hens. Some are selling their
hens and saving their pullets. It's the
older hen that lays the first eggs, the
young pullets' eggs cannot be set, and
some of them are spasmodic In laying
their first dozen or so. Consequently,
my advice is to save your hens till you
are sure of your pullets.
Let me tell you what am doing for
the young chickens We haven't peas
enough to send them to the mill and
get them ground, but 1 take some to
coffee mill in the kitchen and loosen 1t
I'D, and you will be surprised to find
how easily 1t grinds them. That is fine
for the feathering youngsters. Do not
be too liberal with 1t. 1 only give a
cupful to twenty that are six weeks old.
Mix It with the scratch food
This week 1 hope to get planted In
peas a spot that joins the place where I
have the weaned youngsters. They are
onw In wheat that is almost ripe, by
the time 1t is off l want the peas ready
for them, and where they are must be
planted in rye in early September. This
is the only way to raise chickens and
have eggs.
If the man of the house is one Of the