Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1890 — THE POULTRY-YARD. [ARTICLE]

THE POULTRY-YARD.

Poultry Notes. When a chick frequently picks Itself It Is lousy. Buy some Persian Insect powder. Use earth as an absorbent In your poultry house, use freely, and keep a constant supply on hand. Never ship an egg that Is dirty or In any manner soiled. The appearance of an article is a prime factor In Its sale. Crop-bound fowls can trace their trouble to the lack of gravel or sharp, gritty grinding material, as well as to fibrous substances; such as potato and apple parings or grass-blades. “Do duck eggs need sprinkling?” Why of course they do. If not, why does the duck when setting Invariably take a dally bath and sprinkle her own eggs? Follow nature’s laws and you will not be very far misled. A little bone meal In the feed will help chicks to form bone, and they will push along much faster. Use meal prepared for chicks from selected bones. Common phosphate meal won’t do—too many inferior bones go Into Its composition. For the large chicks give granulated bone.— Poultry News. The eggs of ordinary poultry require, as a rule, twenty-one days to hatch, but this Is by no means a universal rule. Cold weather or a prevailing east wind, will lengthen the time a day or more, while warm weather and an attentive setter will materially shorten it. Some housewives throw egg-shells into the fire, to prevent the hens from eating them, claiming that thus the bad habit of egg-eating is learned. If the shells are thoroughly crushed into small pieces before feeding, there will He no danger. Laying hens have an extraordinary appetite for the bits of shells, while the male will scarcely notice them—not out of politeness, however, for, when other food is given, he is generally as full of get-up-and-get as any of them. Poultry rairing, like any other business, is a trade to learn, and If one is Is adapted to It, or has a liking for It, he will succeed. All beginners are advised to start with a few birds, increasing the number as they learn how to handle them. What every one wants is to produce eggs when they bring the highest prices, and also poultry for market when it is not plenty. A place near a qity is naturally the best, as one can readily secure customers that pay good prices for fresh eggs and nicely "dressed chickens.