Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-27

accompanied by a liberal supply of clean
drinking water. Water softens the food
and makes 1t ready for digestion. Wa
ter acts as a carrier and distributes
the nourshing parts of the food where
they are most needed Water carries
off the waste from the body. Water
equalizes the temperature of the hens
body. Water enters largely into the COM
position of the egg, the egg being about
rs per cent water. From the fowls point
of view water is just as valuable as
grain
strongest bulwark against disease and
vermin. 1t is the poultry keepers best
insurance policy.
Do not pack large and small eggs to-
gether and hope to get away with a
price for prime eggs. Your shipment will
be Judged according to its lowest grade.
not by the highest 1t pays to sell the
small pullet eggs as such. rather than
degrade" the large eggs from the older
hens.
Hens soon become acquainted with the
attendant, and frequently they do their
part more conscientionsly than the poul-
tryman
Chickens can no more masticate their
food without sharp grit than we humans
| can chew our food without teeth. Grit
must have angular edges to 1t. to make
i 1t sharp. to give it grinding power.
| Smooth. round pebbles are virtually
| worthless. Prepared poultry grit on
| sale at most houses, costs about IS cents
per hundred-pound sack.
| The foundation of years poultry
| work Is laid in the spring AS the poul-
| try-keeper sows in the mating Of his
breeding pens. in Matching and brooding,
| SO shall he reap his harvest Of pullets
| next autumn.
CARE OF THE BREEDERS
If there is any choice in the matter
give the breeding pens the best quar-
| tiers. They require more room than lay
ers, If a high rate of fertility is to be
had. Successful matings are seldom OBJ
tained in close confinement Jealous males
annoy each other constantly.
| We have "swatted the rooster since
last June and denounced him as the
worst enemy of the fresh egg Now,
| however. he has come into the spot
| light He is the object of special con-
| sideration, because his characteristics
hold sway over the coming broods
Choose him with the greatest care, pay
Ing particular attention to the laying
qualities of his forbears.
Eggs start to run fertile two or three
days after the males are added to the
flock, but 1t is good plan to allow
about 10 days before the eggs are used
for Matching.
Avoid inbreedng as you would a
plague.
1t is doubtful if it is profitable for the
| Of
feeds. because so many ingredients are
required. 1t is certainly more conven-
lent to buy ready-mixed feeds, which
are scientifically prepared for all pur
poses-for growing chicks, for pullets.
for laying hens, for fattening and so on.
Choose reliable brand, and see to it
that 1t is kept in a sweet condition. Be
ware OF bargain feeds, unless you know
the reason why they are cheap. They
may contain damaged product which will
cause no end of trouble.
Dry mash should be placed before the
fowls in light, faky state, otherwise
IL VIII not be relished. Mind you, chick
ems VIII eat mash that Is heavy and
compressed, just as We humans when
put 10 1t viii eat distastefui or poorly
cooked food; but fowls do not like a
mash that is packed down hard in a
box, therefore they will not eat it in
large enough quantities to meet the de
mands OF heavy egg production. Try both
ways, and note the difference.
II the mash hopper is placed outdoors
1t should be proof against wind and rain
IL rats and mice abound the hopper
should be fitted with some means of pro
lection against these pests at night
Rodents are not only thieves, but they
have way of soiling the mash and
making their nests in it. which result
III generally insanitary, unappetizing con.
ditions.
Sparrows are in much the same class
as rodents. Destroy them whenever pos.
sible.
COMMON DISEASE AND REMEDIES
Well-boiled rice mixed with LITTLE
, , charcoal, or the water from boiled rice
Will often check bowel troubles In littl,
chicks. Dissolve Is grains of catechu II
each gallon Of drinking water. Reduc,
the animal protein portion OF the diet
substitute milk. Milk in any form is on,
OF the best foods for all kinds OF poul
try.
Bundle foot is one of the minor all
ments and a common one where har,
. floors are used. A callous or corn form
on the bottom of the foot and between
the toes, which later becomes a painful
. swelling attended by alterations. 1t 1
usually caused by the birds Jumping
from perches that are too high or from
bruises and limitations by splinters
. Painting with tincture Of iodine will dis
;. sipate the callous II taken In the earl
= stages. But II II has liberated. open tn
ulcer. remove any pus. cleanse the woun
with an antiseptic. then bind the foot 4
:, an application OF carboiated vaseline.
Bagging down 10 a term given TO a con
dition Wherein the posterior parts OF
o fowl hang down and even drag aion