Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-11
JUST ABOUT CHICKENS

This seems like unpromising weather
to talk or write about young chickens,
laying hens or setting eggs. But there
is nothing that we deal with that can
be put off till the last minute and even
clear expenses. The old proverb, IAN
ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure" is what up-to-date people live
by. In passing a place, be it a home in
town or a farm, the appearance of
things marks the man as plainly as a
painted sign would. It's not everyone
that will acknowledge it, but the root
of the rundown appearance of things
is either lack of good judgment or pure
and undefiled ''trifiingness."
What is triflingness? Well, it's put
ting off till tomorrow. or till doomsday,
everything that can be avoided. It's
going through a gate with one hinge
hanging when only five minutes work
would make it right It's putting three
nails where four, or perhaps five, are
needed and the sun draws the plank
almost off It's-but what is the use
to say more? All of you have an idea.
There are as many trifling women as
men, mores the pity, and the one that
sits around and smokes, gossips, dips
snuff or whatnot, and let's things go to
ruin is as much a sluggard and slack
for instruction. Tbs triflfng women
have more opportunities to harm the
world, for they have their children
under their influence at all times And
it's my opinion that when we reach the
Great White Throne we are going to see
amongst those nearest our Lord, among
the honored ones that have come
through great tribulation,". mothers and
wives who have had trifling, selfish
husbands.
We will find men there who have had
lazy, wasteful wives. But, some of you
are wondering how this leads up to my
subject. Simply in this way: The
trifling man or woman need not ex-
pect winter eggs. 1t takes feed and a
comfortable house to induce hens to
hay. In the wild state a hen was like
any other bird and only laid eggs to
her species. A thousand
years ago such was the case, but at
that time some of our staple articles
of food were growing wild and ranked
with weeds
A year ago some of us got in a
panic and sold our chickens. we thought
feed too high. Last fall 1 had orders
for nearly a hundred hens, and could
not supply half of them. This win
ter eggs have been so cents a dozen
at the doors OF country homes. w nc
has had the eggs to sell? Every one
that took care of her flock all last year
Understand me, it is a matter of good
judgment, not a hit or miss system
that counts. I've heard women say
that mites were in their flocks and
they simply could not get rid of them
I beg to differ with them. Eternal
vigilance is the price one pays for "a
paying flock of hens or a healthy bunch
with the grown ones. Certain seasons
have three poultry houses besides the
places my youngsters use before going
with the grown ones. Certain reasons
demand one day each week to keep the
places clean, but now one can do the
work once a month. DO not depend on
anybody else taking more interest IN
your possessions than you do.
s The eye of the master, or the mis-
tress as the case may be-, fattens the
flock. / have oats, peas, corn, wheat
bran and shorts. If the weather is IS
cold as the past month has been corn
is the main ration--a full crop to last
all night makes the hen ready to be-
gin singing early. I give the. peas IN
the pod to make them exercise and the
oats are mixed with chaff or the pea
hullS for the same reason.
Warm, crumbly mash mixed with but
termilk or some crackliRgs to supply
the meat needed keeps the supply of
albumen ready for the egg. And they
have crushed oyster shell all the time.
Yesterday they enjoyed the rye, today
they. are in their Houses eating peas