South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-01

ten easily ana Cheaply. For cook
ing purposes no fat is superior to
hen fat, and the dual-purpose breeds
are exceptionally fine for this.
When the chickens are Matched
early enough, pullets from these
breeds can be fitted for fall egg pro-
duction.
II the poultry house is small. the
growing stock should not be crowd
ed. Limit the number Of fowls 10 the
size Of the house and yard. For the
heavier breeds each layer should be
allowed about Your feet Of floor
space, with as much outside run as
possible
If the house is Wei ventilated, is
thoroughly dry, has plenty of sun
light and space enough for the
birds comfort, the simplest struc-
ture Will serve the purpose of hous-
ing fowls. Cleanliness and dryness
are the essentials to success in hous-
ing poultry.
Two piano boxes can be made into
e. cheap, but very serviceable back.
yard poultry house, if made water
tight. Lime and sunlight are among
the best natural disinfectants. If the
house is well lighted, as il should be.
and faces the south, sickness should
be almost an unknown quantity.
even if the fowls have no yard.
Where fowls have yards. and this
area is small the ground soon be-
comes fowl and threatens the com
fort and health Of the flock. The
yard should be dug up or scraped at
least once month, and then
sprinkled with lime Of some other
disinfectant.
If the yard space is sufficiently
large. il is advisable TO divide it into
two parts While the fowls are in
one part, the other may be planted
10 a grain crop During these war
times. oats or rye viii he the cheap
est grain 10 SOW. When the crop is
from three 10 six inches high. the
flock should be turned into il. the
other part of the yard sowed in the
same manner This plan not only
keeps the soil sweet, but il provides
succulent green feed for the flock
War Time Rations.
Many persons who formerly kept
fowls have sold their focks because
of the high price Of grain feeds This
was "A mistake. The increase in
prices has not been one-sided. There
has been a large increase in the
price of eggs and table poultry The
fact is, a small flock may be as
prohtably handled as before war
time prices. If the reader has the
facilities for keeping fowls. let him
start right in again 10 keep them.
If there is a small back yard, fit up
"a place for the few fowls at once.
Balanced rations may be com 6ined
from the cheapest feeds, which will
provide for normal growth in the
young stock and do for fattening or
egg production in the older fowls. In
fact, the backyard poultry keeper is
especially fortunate since wastes
from the table may he used 10 good
advantage. Even weeds from the
garden and grass clippings can be
used.
A cheap wartime ration is a dry
mash mixture of two parts bran, and
one each of middlings. alfalfa and
beef scrap. This may he fed dry in
hoppers a mixture of equal parts
Of scratch feed. corn and oats makes
a good grain ration. These feeds
provide the needed amounts Of pro-
tin. carbohydrates and fat for a bal
anCed ration. II is advisable that
the fowls be fed equal parts Of the
mash and grain. A pen of 10 or
dozen dual-purpose fowls should be
allowed about one quart each Of
mash and grain daily. The lighter
breeds like LeghoTns. should be al
lowed these amounts Tor / > birds.
Growing pullets should be given
an they Will eat Of these rations.
They need abundant food TO be fitted
for normal development and for egg
production in fall and winter. II Is
bad economy TO stint young stock.
Give them all they will eat, and later
they will repay the debt. with inter
est.
Wastes from the table may be
used with the mash ration and the
whole used as a wet mash. Potato
skins and small potatoes should be
boiled and mixed with the mash.
which makes an excellent poultry
feed. II the table wastes contain
sufficient meat. the beef scrap may
be omitted from the mash.
II the poultry-keeper has a gar
den the weeds should be pulled and
cut up for the flock. Many weeds
are thoroughly appetizing. are nu-
tritious. and correct the bad effects
of overlooking with corn. I'm pre-
pairing youns pullets for laying. ali
abundance of green stuff is better
than too much corn. MOldy corn
should never be fed.
At the prevailing prices for meats
and poultry, cockerels should be sold
for brouers as soon as possible. Only
pullets should be kept. The quarters
intended for them should be clean
ed. whitewashed and made ready at
an early date. Moving layers is bad
practice IL is equally bad for pullets.
IL tends TO check their development.
As soon as possible in september or
October. the pulleis should be placed
i'm the house or pen they are 20 oc-
Cupy for the winter
Successful Handling of PulletS-
Pullets intended for fan produc-
ton should have little extra care.
If they seem droopy. watch for
mites. These pests work al night.
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