The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-13

frame two or three inches high, GOV cred with one-inch mesh wire. A part of the yard as large as this frame | is spaded up and sown, the frame | placed over 1t. As soon as the green sprouts reach the wire the hens will begin to pick them off, but since they ] cannot eat them down to the roots the sprouts will continue to grow and supply green material.
 The yard should be spaded fre- quently if not in sod. This will not only tend to keep down odors, but also allow thed roppings to be absorb ed.
 Although 1t is necessary to keep the hens confined most of the time it IS sometimes possible to let them range for an hour or so in the evening when some one can be at hand to watch them. This will be enjoyed by the hens and will be beneficial to them.
 In feeding the city flock, all table scraps, kitchen waste, etc., should be utilized. Scraps of meat or leftover vegetables which cannot be utilized in any other way make excellent feed. There are also many other waste pro- ducts, such as beet tops turnip tops, corrot tops, potato parings, onion tops, watermelon, and cantaloupe rinds, the outside leaves of cabbages, waste lettuce leaves, bread and cake crumbs, etc., all of which are relish ed by the hens and can be used to the best advantage. Decomposed waste or moldy bread or cake should never be fed to hens, as 1t may cause serious bowel trouble. Sloppy material, such as dishwater, should not be thrown into their pail. Any sour milk which is not utilized in the house should be given to the chickens. This should be fed separately, however, either by allowing the hens to drink 1t or by al- lowing it to clabber on the back of the stove and then feeding it in that condition
 Table scraps and kitchen waste are best prepared by running them through a meat grinder and mixing with cornmeal, bran or other ground
 grain until the whole mass assumes 2 crumbly condition.
 With the table scraps 1t is well to | feed some grain as light feed in the | morning; about one-half pint scat tered in the litter will be sufficient | for a flock of twenty or twenty-five
 hens. By scattering it in the litter l the hens will be compelled to scratch
 to find the grain and take exercise,
 which Is decidedly beneficial. A 1 good grain mixture is equal parts by
 weight of wheat, cracked corn, and oats. Another suitable mixture is | two parts by weight of cracked corn
 and one of oats.
 In addition to the grain and the | table scraps it is well to feed a dry
 mash composed of ground grains and placed in a mash hopper or box from which the hens can help themselves.
 Hens do not like the dry mash so well 1 that they are likely to overeat. A
 good dry mash is composed of equal parts by weight of corn meal, wheat
 bran. wheat middlings, and beef scrap. Another good mash is composed of
 three parts by weight of corn meal
 and one part beef scrap. Still third
 mash, which has given excellent re-
 suits is composed of one pound of
 wheat bran, one pound of wheat mid
 dlings, 6.5 pounds of beef scrap, and 16.5 pounds of corn meal The beef scrap used in the dry mash is usually
 the most expensive ingredient, but it
 is very essential and efficient for egg
 production. Fish scrap may replace
 beef scrap, or cotton seed meal can be
 used to replace half the beef scrap in
 the mash.
 Green cut bone can often be pur-
 chased from the butcher. This ma | iaI oolE n
 excellent substitute for beef scrap. Ii
 is best fed in a trough not ofteneT
 than every other day, allowing one
 half ounce per bird.
 The hens should have access at al
 times to grit or small stones to hell , in grinding in their gizzards the hard grains which they eat. Ordinary gravel will answer. Crushed oyster 7 or clam shell also should be kept be , fore the hens at all times. If this } is withheld the hens are likely to lacl
 shell-forming material and lay soft 5 shelled eggs.
 \ A plentiful supply of clean, fresl 7 water must always be available. Tht 7 fowls drink freely, especially whe1 ] l laying and should not be stinted. Tn, s water dish should be kept clean an; s set outside the house and in the shad 3 in the summer, but in the winter it i . best that the pan be left in tn , house, where 1t will not freeze. <; If the best results are to be expect 0 ed from the flock, the hens must no , be allowed to become overrun wit e lice or the house with mites A bo: = about two feet square should be pro | vided in the house and dust such a o ordinary road dust or fine dry dir > placed in it. A dust bath aids tn y hens in keeping lice in check and add
 to their comfort.
 U To rid the hens of lice, each one ca '' be treated by placing small pinches 0 . sodium fuorid, a material which ca A be obtained at drug stores, among tn . feathers next to the skin-one pine |. on the head, one on the neck, two O ~ the back, one on the breast, one be low the vent, one at the base of tn tail, one on either thigh and on v scattered on the underside of eac wing when spread.
 |, In any flock some hens will | = found to be much better producer i7 than others. Often there are a fer
 hens which are such poor producer if that they are unproftable WheI ,e the flock is comparatively small, tn is owner is often able to determine | n observation which are the poor pro IA ducing hens. Needless to say, thes
 should be the ones to kill and eat ( .vi fowls are desired for the table.