Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1919-10-02
THE FIGHTER is
BEST ROOSTER
R. N. Crane Says Pick Out
Early Feathering vigOr-
Gus Bird
MUST HAVE STRONG LEGS
Specialist Gives Much Interesting In.
formation in Regard to Breeding Up
Flock and Caring for it During Late
Summer.

(By X. n. Crane, Poultry Specialist
Division of Extension, University OF
Tennessee.)
The earliest matured cOckerel that
shows the most vigor, that feathers
first, and is disposed to fight, is nearly
always the best breeder, and should
be retained.
The cOckerel should have strong,
well-standing apart legs. He should
have a strong back, be wide across the
shoulders, and back to the hips He
should have ii deep, full breast, short
neck, short blocky head, medium sized
comb, and strong, bright eyes. This
type of cockerel is easily kept fat, and
will transmit this quality to his off
spring.
Summer Care of Poultry.
When cockerels attain marketable
ages they should be sold and the pull
lets transferred to roomy quarters
which have been thoroly whitewashed.
ROupe and tuberculosis will develop
if they are allowed to stay in crowded
coops.
Pullets which have their early
growth hindered by close conditions
never develop into profitable egg-pro-
ducing hens.
Need Fresh Water.
During August and September, pOul-
try must have plenty of fresh water,
grain night and morning, and dry
mash at all times. An excellent mash
can be made rom ingredients proper
toned as follows:
200 pounds of ground corn, 200
pounds of ground oats, 100 pounds
each of wheat, bran and shorts, %
pounds of old process linseed meal,
100 pounds Of meat scrap; add to this
one per cent of fine salt, five per cent
of oyster SHE'LL grit and charcoal.
July Noting.
Tennessee fowls begin Noting dur.
ing July and continue until November.
Results of observations as compiled by
use of the trap nest have proved that
early melting hens produce fewest
eggs.
Pullets Matched early will lay dur.
ing the fall and early winter. Heavy
producing hens will continue to lay
until November. The deep yellow In
the legs of the best laying hens will
fade considerably as the laying season
advances. Great width between the
pelvic bones also is noticeable in the
biggest producers. The bones also are
pliable There is also great width be.
Usually on the Best hens this distance
will be the width of the hand.
The spread between the pelvic bones
of the smaller breeds, such as Leg
horns, is about the width of two and
half fingers. In the larger strains as
Plymouth Rocks the spread Is about
the width of three or more fingers.
Hens in any strain having this quail
tication should be carried over for use
in the breeding pens.
The early melting, yellow legged
hens sSould be marketed during July
August and September, the time when
their laying period is most likely to
end.
With corn selling at 1926 bushelr
and other feeds equally as expensive
the few eggs that light producing hens
lay from July Is until January Is will
not offset the feeding cost. Further
more, the room they will occupy can
be more profitably used if early hatch
ed pullets are kept in their space.
Pulets that develop slowly should
be sold at the time cockerels are placed
on the market. Only strong, vigorous
early Matched pullets should be kept
for egg producers. A flock thus pick.
ed, kept in comfortable house, and
well fed, will produce the maximum
Otherwise vitality, production and
profits VIII be low.