Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1891 — THE POULTRY-YARD. [ARTICLE]

THE POULTRY-YARD.

The Barn* lard Refuse. The pickings of the void Ings of horses and cattle, with the waste grains, hay seed and broken leaves of clover hay which the hens secure, amount to a large quantity, and also afford a variety. That is the reason why the common hen sometimes lays more eggs than the pure breeds. The latter are over-fed, get but little exercise, and as all writers teach “feed heavily,” |he.common hen Is compelled to work while the pure-bred hen has toothing to do but patiently waft. But nearly all farmers feed corn, and the supposition Is that the common hen receives yet no estimate is made of the varied food she picks up in the barn-yard. The tact is that the common hen is better fed, so far as variety is concerned, than the pure-bred, but she must seek It, which she does, and in an industrious manner, her very Industry keeping her in excellent laying condition. It pays to keep a few hdns In the barn-yard in order to utilize the waste that occurs. The farmer may not notice the loss from waste, but the alert hen, with her keen eyes, does not let a single grain escape her. Farm and Fioreside.