Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
HOW POULTRY KEEPER
SHOULD DO HIS BIT
Care and Preparation Of Pullets for
\ Early Fall Produc-
Is ton.
SOME WAR TIME RArIoNs
Table Wastes, Garden Weeds and
& Lawn Clippings May Be Used to
rs Cut Down Expenses Of Chickens
L Bill Of Fare.

~. Sut OOhh EApcuScS VI OIuChcu o
Bill of Fare.
BY PROF. JAMES II. NORMAN.
Former Expert for the United States
Department of Agriculture.
For the family that keeps fowls for
home consumption OF eggs and meat.
the dual-purposo breeds are best
Plymouth Rocks. Wyandottes. Orping-
tons. and Rhode Island Reds are SPLEEN
did birds for these purposes. They are
good layers and make prime table
poultry They fatten easily and cheap
ly. For cooking purposes, no fat Is
superior to hen fat. and the dual-pur-
pose breeds are exceptionally fine for
this.
When the chickens are Matched early
enough. pullets from these breeds can
be fitted for fall egg production.
II tho poultry house is small, the
growing stock should not be crowded
Limit the number of fowls to the size
of the house and yard. For the heavier
breeds, each layer should be allowed
about four feet of moor space. with
as much outside run as possible.
II tho house is well ventilated, is
and space enough for the birds ccm-
fort. tho simplest structure will serve
the purpose of housing fowls. Clean
Illness and dryness arc the essentials
to success In housing poultry.
Two piano boxes can be made Into
cheap. but very serviccable back
yard poultry house. II madc watertight
Lime and sunlight are among the best
hn Co
we'll lighted. as it should be, and faces
the south, sickness should be almost
an unknown quantity. even in the
fowls.
II the yard space is sufficiently large.
II Is advisable to divide 1t into two
parts. While the fowls are in one
part. the other may be planted TO a
grain crop. During these war times.
oats or rye will he tho cheapest grain
to SOW. When the crop is from three
to SIX inches high. the lock should be
turned into 1t. and the other part OF
the yard sowed in the same manner
This plan not only keeps the soil sweet,
but II provides succulent green feed
for the flock.
War Time Rntions.
Many persons who formerly kent
fowls have sold their focks because Of
the high price OF grain feeds. This was
mistake. The increase in prices has
not been one-sided. There has been q
large increase in the price Of eggs and
table poultry. The fact Is, small
flock may be as profitably handled as
before wartime prices. IL the reader
has the facilities for keeping fowls.
let him start right in again 10 keep
them. II there is a small back yard.
tit up place for few fowls at once.
Balanced rations may be combined
from the cheapest feeds. which will
provide for normal growth in the young
stock and do for fattening or esq pro-
duction In the older fowls IL tact,
the backyard poultry keeper Is esre-
cialiy fortunate. since wastes from the
table may be used to good advantage.
Even weeds from the garden and grass
clippings can be used.
a cheap wartime ration Is dry
mash mixture Of two pats of bran
and one each OF middlinEs. alfalfa and
beef scrap This may be fed dry in
hoppers. mixture OF equal parts OF
scratch feed. corn and oats makes a
good grain ration These feeds pro-
vide the needed amounts Of protein.
carbohydrates and fat for a balanced
y ias'ot- ~ 10 ADVISABLE tnat the lows
be fed about equal parts Of mash and
grain. A pen of ten or u dozen dual
purpose fowls should be allowed about
one quart each Of mash ana grain
daily. The lighter breeds, like Leg
horns. should be allowed these amounts
for fifteen birds.
Growing pullets should be given all
they will eat OF these ratiors. They
need abundant food to be fitted for
normal development and for egg pro-
duction in fall and winter. 1t is bad
economy to stint young stock Give
them all they will eat. and later they
will repay the debt with interest,".
Wastes from the table may be used
with tho mash ration. and the whole
used as wet mash. Potato skins and
small potatoes should be boiled and
mixed with the mash. which make.
an excellent poultry feed If the table
wastes contain sufficient meat. the
beef scrap may be omitted from the
mash.
II the poultrykeeper has garden
the weeds should be pulled and GU. ur
for the flock. Many weeds are thor.
oughly appetizing. are nutritious, and
correct the bad effect of overfeedina
with corn. In preparing young pull
let's for laying. an abundance Of green
stuff Is better than too much corn.
Moidy corn should never be fed.
AT the prevailing prices for meats
and poultry. oockerels should be sold
for broilers rs soon as possible. Only
pullets should be kept. The quarters
aNsrs.-1--,1-.-1-z #.