Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1892 — THE POULTRY-YARD. [ARTICLE]

THE POULTRY-YARD.

Poultrr on tho Farm. Most farmers consider poultry on the farm more of a nuisance than a benefit and only tolerate fowls on the farm because the old womep like to have them around, writes Aunt Betsy, in “Farmer and Breeder.” Such men either forget or ignore the fact that the good house-wife and her chickens supply most of the necessaries such as coffee, tea, sugar, etc. —yes, and i know more than one place where they supply the tobacco also. Were it not for this despised, source of supply the husband would have to provide the hard cash for the “store goods” or go without them and any one that lives on a farm knows that there are times when it is difficult to get ready money. But fresh eggs and poultry will always bring the cash no difference what time in the' year. But there is a class of progressive farmers who have discovered and will acknowledge that poultry Is of great value on the farm, and every year we find a few more going into the business and trying to “grade up,” as they call it by having a few thoroughbred roosters. We find a few more willing to take poultry papers and learn from others that have made it a success, nut it is very hard to get some people out of the old rut. “You can’t tell me anything about raising chickens, the old jdung hill is just as good as your thoroughbred. The trees are good enough for hens to roost in.” The hen is kicked about if she comes into the barn, and all she gets to eat is what she steals; then if she don’t lay —“Chickens don’t pay.” Try building a hen house, one that is comfortable and warm, give the hens the same care as other stock gets, supply them with green food, such as turnips, onions, and potatoes, sometimes cooked, and at others simply chopped or mashed; plenty of charcoal, lime, gravel, or broken shells, all of which the farmer can get with a little trouble generally on his own farm, and then with plenty of milk and fresh water, my word for it, they will pay better than any stock you have on the farm. Poultry Noto«. In fowl-culture, nothing can take the place of a “keen eye” and a “quick mind” to see that “all is well,” Gather your eggs as soon after laying as maybe. They are liable to become broken in the nests and eaten bv the hens, thus laying the foundation of a very bad habit. The farmer must breed white fowls. They are just as good in every respect as dark ones, and better in this feature, viz: their appearance upon the meat stand in market Is fine and clean, their pin feathers being white, are not noticed, whereas every dark pin feather is sure tostand out in bold and ugly relief. Perhaps your flock of poultry needs new fresh blood for its invigoration. If so the sooner the matter is attended to the better. A good male bird has considerable value and therefore it is folly td expect to obtain such, save by the payment of a good price. A real good fowl is cheaper at $5.00 than a poor one is at 75 cents or SI.OO. Absorbents are of great value to the poultry house. Dry loam, smuck, coal ashes, etc., are splendid for “taking in” not only moisture and dampness, but also the various noxious gasses, such as ammonia and carbonic acid gas, which are always present in greater or lesser quantities. j\. pure dry atmosphere is essential to health.