The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-29

hatch strong chicks from weak germs or from eggs which have not received proper care.
 Farmers, as a rule, feed their poultry the grain that is cheapest on the farm that year. Many poultry specialists and most small poultry keepers use their flaw orite poultry feeds without considering either the quality of the supply or the possibilit yof using cheaper substitutes.
 Under normal conditions corn is the cheapest poultry feed, in nearly all parts of the United States, say poultry special ists of the United States department of agriculture. During the past year oats have been in nearly every locality cheap CT than corn. When corn goes down to s1.50 a bushel, oats should be 75 cents and barley s1 20 bushel to give the same value as poultry feed.
 Oats, with the hulls on, contain more indigestible matter than corn, and the ifdigestible huls also make oats less pal atable to poultry and of less feeding value. An average sample of oats should be valued at about 12 to 15 per cent less than a good sample of cracked corn. The best wheat usually available for poultry is not actually worth more as a poultry feed than good cracked corn. Low-grade and damaged grains are suit able for poultry feed if birds in good condition will eat them readily.
 Every poultry keeper has favorite green feed for his flock. Usually it is one that can be supplied with least expense and effort Providing it is relished by the fowlS there probably is little differ ence in what kind of green feed is sup piled. Cabbages rape, rye. oats or call lards are most suitable. The larger roots and the cabbages may be suspended by wire or they may be placed on the floor. Potatoes may also be fed and should be cooked. The mangel is exce;- lent for feeding raw.
 Clover, cut up and soaked in boiling water is good when fed with mash, as is clover meal and ground alfalfa. Sprout- ed oats or other sprouted grains may also be fed and make excellent green feeds, but require considerable labor. As a general thing the flock should have, once a day, about all the green feed it will eat
 Trap nests are the deadly foe of the lazy hen When they are used, no amount of caczling and appearance of industry can conceal the fact that she isn't delivering the goods. They are the one accurate way by which the owner of a flcck can check Up on the laying ability of the individual hens.
 BeSlQeS DSlHS NdludDic III iOSothAS e'tS drones. their use is advisable for the fol- flowing additional reasons:
 They help to make the birds tame, thereby tending toward increased egg production.
 They furnish definite knowledge con corning /the egg production of individual fowls.
 They furnish the most satisfactory ba sis for utility or other breeding
 They show which hen lays each indI- vidual egg. thus furnishing the essential basis for pedigree breeding.
 The safest way for those who are about to make their first attempt at poultry raising is to start in small way with few fowls and learn the business thoroughly before making large investments. Mistakes will be made and many difficult problems will be presented for solution before success in any. large measure will be attained. As soon as it is found to be paying investment, more capital may be put into the plant