The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-02-28
KEEPING POULTRY IN TOWN
FRESH EGGS AND MEAT ARE
POSSIBLE TO ALL
Backyard Flock Is Not a Gold Mine
But Is a Sure Source of
Good Foou

While we are striving to educate
the farmer to keep his poultry under
better conditions and encourage him
to increase his flock, we also feel tEat
chickens should be kept TO a greater
extent than at present by families liy.
ing in towns and in the suburbs of
| large cities, says Charles NJ smith
poultry specialist for the Extension
Division of Oklahoma A. a. NJ COL
lege
In every household there is a cer.
tain amount of kitchen waste which
iinds its way to the garbage pail.
Fhis waste material and small
amount Of grain, if fed TO a flock OF
hens properly housed will keep a fam.
lily in eggs for the greater part OF the
year Not only will the eggs from
these hocks reduce the cost Of living,
but the quality Of the eggs is we'll
worth the effort expended
The idea that hens must have free
range TO be prolific layers is not cor
rect. From my own experience / know
that hens Will produce as many or
more eggs when confined The only
advantage in the flock having large
yards or tree range is that their eggs
hatch better and produce stronger
chicks.
The flock should be comfortably
housed Overcrowding must b. avoid,
ed A floor space of three or four
square feet per bird is sufficient The
house, with the exception Of the front,
should be perfectly tight TO avoid
drafts and must face the south, The
front should be partly open to allow
fresh air and sunshine. but must have
q curtain made Of muslin or burlap
which can be dropped in cold wealth
or especially at night Two piano
boxes with the backs removed can
be nailed together and door cut in
the end. This makes a good coop
for eight or ten hens. The floor must
be covered with litter of straw to
a depth Of three or four inches. Drop
ping boards and roosts must be placed
against the back wall An orange
box with a threeinch strip nailed
across the lower front makes a good
nest This box can be nailed against
the side wall A vessel for drinking
water must be supplied and never al
lowed to become empty
The birds must be fed little
grain in addition to the table scraps.
This should be scattered in the litter
to induce them to scratch. thereby
giving hem exercise which is very
beneficial The scraps must not be
allowed to become decomposed as
moldY feeds are very harmful. Sour
milk is one Of the best feeds ior
chickens, old or young A hopper
containing mixture OF ground grains
will prove beneficial This mixture
can be composed Of wheat bran. corn
meal and beef scraps
81 would suggest keeping purebred
fowls, any of the general purpose
breeds, such as the Plymouth Rock.
Wyandotte, Rhode Island Reds or Or.
pngtons. If, however the desire for
eggs alone is greater than that of
meat leghorns can be kept. 1t is
best to start with pullets about to
lay, and they should be procured
from some reliable breeder. feel
sure that with reasonable care the
average hen will produce at least ten
dozen eggs in her pulet year. There
are many back yard breeders who are
not only supplying their table with
eggs and an occasional chicken din
ner, but are producing prize winners
at some of the best poultry shows in
the country
The principal points to have in
mind are to purchase we'll matural
pullets Build a cheap house hut
have II dry and free from drafts
Fowls stand cold better than damn.
ness Provide dropping boards under
the roosts so that the house can be
easily cleaned.
Keep the hens free from lice by
the occasional use of lice powder and
disinfectant. Feed grain once dav.
Feed a dry mash and all the table
scraps and kitchen waste they Will
eat. Do not forget the supply of clean
fresh water.
q will be glad to answer any Ques
tons along poultry lines addressed
to me at the A. e NJ College, Stll.
water, Oklahoma