Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-20

to assist the chicks to exclude then4
selves.
Sometimes the only ventilation chicke1
houses receive is when the doors ar(
| opened and closed by the attendant. NJ
amount of dry fresh air ever proved
harmful to fowls, providing 1t was fred
from drafts. Use curtains over the open<
ings.
The sitting hen is entitled to just a(
much consideration as the brood marc
or COW. and it is the only way to obtai1
the full benefit of her efficiency.
Bulky foods, such as alfalfa, groun4
oats and bran, are essential, but th(
content Of fiber or indigestible portio1
Of the food should be kept as near five
per cent. as possible.
In purchasing an incubator or broode1
1t is we'll to bear in mind that the egg4
or chicks which are left in charge Of
this equipment are worth many time(
the price of the machines.
Millet seed, because it Is hard, roun@
and slippery. is considered to be indii
gestible for young chicks. Very ofte1
1t passes through the gizzard without
being ground, only to start trouble in th(
intestines. A small quantity may MOI
prove harmful. and it is usually included
in the ready-mixed chick feeds; but fed
exclusively or in large quantities it ia
certain to cause Illness.
Some poultry dealers delude themselves
with the idea that SO long as they charge
the air OF their chicken houses with
strong smelling. volatile liquids, which
are assumed to be germicides. such liv-
ing quarters are perfectly sanitary and
free from vermin. There is a marked
difference between a deodorizer and a
disinfectant. The former suppresses fetid
vapors or neutralizes them. The latter
acts upon the cause.-the decaying matt
ter itself-and destroys it.
USE OF CONDIMENTS
Pepper or other condiments taken in
small doses, about the same as we would
season food intended for human consump-
ton. is not harmful to fowls; but 1t Ia
| not so beneficial as some oppose. In
fact, the real benefits to be derived from
the use of condiments are not traceable
to the condiments themselves. but ia
| the increased food consumed by the fowls
by reason Of a stimulated appetite.
The egg-eating habit usually has an
accidental beginning, but the accidents
are often due to careless management
Avoid cramped nests, an insufficient nuns
Der of nests, and nests which offer no se-
| clusion. Nesting compartments should
be not less than II inches square. so
arranged that the fowls can walk into
them. Don't make the mems jump into
the nests. Allow one nest to every fouc
layers. Arrange the nests in the most
secluded part Of the house, preferably
! In semidarkness. 1t Is natural for a hen
to seek privacy.
1t is hard to fatten a stunted chickens
and seldom profitable. Somehow it SEEING
to make the runt thin to carry What ii
eats.
Most eggs are laid during banking
hours.
Spurs on old males often become an
impeachment. Better dehorn them. 1t Ia
a simple operation. Use a fine saw, pre-
| ferably a hack saw, and cut off the spurs
within a half-inch of the leg, never closH
er than his. Heat a knife blade and
cauteriZe the ends to check any noWe
Of blood and to prevent infection. on
the application Of powdered chalk %
| nitrate of silver should prevent bleedingi
The birds will try to escape the operas
ton, of course. and they may appea9
to vince under the effect of the savings
Have no undue qualms; dehorning u vir~
tually painless.
If we got all the eggs we wanted
they WOOlQ De worth HttI6 OF nOtNlnSS
The fact that they are hard to get keeps
up the price.
Some persons save the shells of the
eggs which are consumed at home and
those from the incubator and sitting hena
and feed the shells to the layers. the
object being to supply lime. GeneralN
speaking this practice is not to be recS
commended. Such shells are not clean
in most cases., consequently they serve
as a breeding place for germs n una
wholesome insects. Furthermore. un<
less the shells are crushed fine and there%
by disguised. there is danger of starting
the hens in the habit of e~gg-eating3
Crushed oyster shells answer the SANG
purpose. and when one considers how
cheap is this part of the hen bill Of
fare, 1t seems like petty economy td
bother with e%ggshells.
The early layer is the winter layer,
and the winter layer is almost always
the all-year layer. and therefore the rec-
ord layer.
Bees, poultry and fruit make a good
combination.
Feed plenty of greenstufs.