Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07

I have been requested by the editor
| to write a seasonable article dealing
with the immediate and local prob
keepers. 1t is true that few such
poultry men or women have the OPP
portunity to follow all the sugges-
lions as to the care and management
of the growing chicks published in
The Star during June and July. AS
an Illustration, it is not possible in
most cases to have the pullets and
cockerels separated and kept on
range, but there were many prin-
ciples enunciated in my weekly ar
ticles which are applicable to all
poultrymen and to all poultry
whether in large or small flocks,
whether kept for home use or for
commercial purposes. with limited or
unlimited facilities. The standard of
the flock can be maintained and often
improved under more or less unfa-
vorable conditions and environment
provided the right principles of poul-
try culture are understood and fol-
lowed as closely as possible.
At this season the young stock
should have reached the point where,
for the best results. the cockerels
should be separated from the pullets
as the males annoy the females to the
extent that their growth is retarded
somewhat which delays egg produc-
ton accordingly. If the flock has the
run of the yard, lawn or adjoining
lot it would be good practice to con-
fine the cockerels to a small pen and
give the females their liberty. If one
or two cockerels are to be kept over
be done by allowing them to go with
the pullets. In fact. that is just what
should be done. Only vigorous stock
should be used for breeding purposes
and for egg production. young chlcks
of low vitality will not develop INTO
good layers or vigorous breeders, and
confinement is opposed to strong Wig
Chickens. if kept confined to small
pens, if well fed. increase in weight
and size. but lose in vigor and Vi
tality. as shown by the falling off in
marketing after few weeks of
heavy feeding. The problems of the
man who raises not more than posi-
bly, thirty or forty chickens. who uses
the cockerels and Gull pullets in his
home and keeps over for the follow
ing season fifteen or twenty pullets,
are very simple.
The pullets may be allowed to run
free if there is any range at all, while
the cockerels are shut in pen and
given a good growing ration. yet
little wider than that given the pull
lets-that is. one containing somewhat
more fattening substance than that
furnished the pullets. or about the
same ratio that the pullets would get
if they had a wide range containing
a variety of natural foodstuffs. The
readers of this column will recall that
| have previously pointed out that
where the bugs and worms were plen-
tifui less food with high protein con-
tent or muscle and tendon making
in the form of meat meal
or beef scrap, should be supplied.
For we'll grown chickens with re-
stricted range. l would suggest the
following feed mixtures: Equal parts
by weight of cracked corn and wheat
with one-half part of oats: but ow-
ing to high prices sometimes charged
for grains sold in small lots and the
experienced with the
mixing of feeds at home, it is often
found both desirable and economical
to purchase one of the standard COM
mercial. so-called growing feeds"
made up of variety of wholesome
grains In addition to this mash" !
of ground grain and meat
products should be fed. There is
probably no best mash mixture. but
one containing ten pounds of wheat
bran, ten of wheat middling. five of