Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-10

cannot hope to keep healthy ana
contented flock on bare range. Every
no,,ltry yard should be provided WIN
trees hut IL trees are not avaifapie'
some shelter must be put up 10 pro-
vide a Mace of refuge from the not
SIM There is no better place LOT
growing pullets than an apple OF,
cbard Shade is thus furnished anu
the tender grass. so much Deeded "
tho developing birds, Is always az
hand. II green stuff is not TO De nau
on the range, it should be PROVIDED;
Lettuce. cabbage and rape are suou
crops TO provide summer greens ior
growing birds and for the laying
focks.
THE question of taking care OF tie
broody hens may prove dllllcull or
on farms where general purpose
breeds are kept. Gull out the per-
sistent settlers. This fact may De
ascertained by using colored BANDS
for the broodies. When bird has
two or three attacks" in quick sue
cession, it is best to get rid OF her.
Culling should go on at all times 90
the persistent settlers should be sent
to market at frequent intervals. u
birds are removed from the nests the
first night they attempt TO SIT, they
break UP easily. Give the setters an
airy coop and return them TO the
laying pen after three days. Inc
bird should be laying again IN ten
days, if She is worth keeping. one
of the things to breed out or the noch
is this setting quality. The best lay
ers are broody but small part OF
the time. Pullets that start laying IN
the fall and lay right thru until the
next summer without showing signs
of broodiness are good birds to keep
for the breeding pens. 1t is good
plan to start banding the broodies as
soon as any appear in the mock.
When a bird has three bands before
the next summer, she is better Tor
| fricassee than for a layer.
Predatory birds and animals VIII
take toll Of the flock if precautions
are not taken. We have two or three
species of hawk that are very des-
| tructiye to halfSroWn chicks. Inc
early Summer seems to be the time
when these depredations are worst.
! Hawks are mighty hard TO frighten
away. You may put up all the
scarecrows you can think OF and sun
! they will come. The little steel trap
! is about as effective as anything.
/ Set up a pole or two at some dis
! lance from the chicken runs. Place
| the traps on the tops of the poles.
| Hawks usually alight on some van
! tage point to spy out the land before
| they make a raid. They are more
| than likely to choose one of these
poles After you have caught one Or
| two, others seem TO take warning
and give the place wide berth.
| The question of a water supply
should not be neglected as the birds
| require great deal to drink during
! the warm weather. Use large foun-
! tains, as the water viii keep cool for
/ a longer time than in smaller dishes.
/ Swat the rooster. That is a slC-
gan that is revived every season.
| Really. there is no reason for tho
male bird after the season of hatch
! ing is over. Unless males are excep-
! tionally good ones. It is better to dis
pose of them for whatever they will
! bring in the market and use younger
! birds next year. Old birds are not
| as vigorous for breeders. AT any rate.
| all males should be placed in a pen
| by themselves. This means young
4 and old. 1t is not a good practice to
/ allow the cockerels 10 run with their
sisters. AT least they become annoy =
! ing during the summer when the
pullets should be busy building up
/ Vigor for the prolonged period of lay
| ing which they must pass thru if
they are to be profitable birds Il
4 separate pen. with an open yard. will
/, answer very we'll for the cockerels
. They will need to be fed much the
F. same as the pullcts and they will
| need green feed of some kind, also.
! In the case of Leghorns. and other
| light breeds. covered pen will be
| necessary if the birds are to be kept
within bounds
word with regard to marketing
may not be out Of place. Eggs should
/ be gathered daily and shipped 10
market at least twice a week Il
! does not take long for eggs to be-
I come slightly off condition in the
-! warm weather. Incubation will often
! start If the eggs are fertile and that
is the main reason for disposing OF
The males. The man who always
! sells tirst-class product is the one
who makes the most money in the
long run There is no reason why
I every poultryman should not sen
! first class eggs.
/ Summer is a time for vigilance II.
! me poultry yard. II is the time
. when much of the selection for
( breeding pens should be done.-The
! Poultry Item.