Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1892 — THE POULTRY-YARD. [ARTICLE]

THE POULTRY-YARD.

Mix tliH Fggs. If you raise light and dark breeds mix the eggs when setting so the hens will not make you trouble when they hatch. 1 raised white and black chickens several seasons and found that if 1 set eggs under one hen producing white chicks and black under another, they would own none other than the white or black chicks they hatched and would pick and often kill chicks of the opposite color to their own. I mixed the eggs, they hatched part white and part black chicks, and I had no more trouble with my hen’s fighting each other’s broods. Variety of feed will of course promote digestion and increase growth. If early broilers and a good market is desired, they must be hatched early and pushed from the start. If you want them for your own use and do not want to take any extsa time in preparing for them or feeding them more than is usually done, you can do so, but need not expect such good results. My neighbors consider that •money can be made raising chickens upon the farms and selling to the grocers at even low figures, say two or three dollars per dozen. It is not such a chore to look after a flock of chicks if there is a Jove for the work, but neglect of this branch of the farm is not to be commended.—Prairie Farmer. Fertility ot Egga. On the care of poultry the Northwest Agriculturist says that the hens that are given a variety of food, and are not over-fat, will lay eggs that should hatch, if the male is vigorous.

Fresh meat gives vigor to the laying hens, and if more meat and less corn is fed the hens will more than pay for the difference in the price of the meat in the increased number of eggs laid. This' male should .have a little meat once a day if possible, as it will greatly add to his vigor and increase the fertility of the eggs. Of the grains, buckwheat should not be overlooked in the change of diet, and a good mess of scalded chopped hay should be allowed daily. Providing Water for Ducks. Ducks that are kept in yards where there are no ponds, need a larfe quantity of water. The troughs should be very large, so as to allow several bucketfuls of water to be poured in, or the work of filling smaller troughs frequently will entail too much labor. Ducks not only drink water freely, but they waste a large portion by throwing it out of the trough on the ground. Keep only a few adult ducks unless you can provide water but with little difficulty. Poultry Pickings. One rooster and ten hens are enough for breeding. Pullets that are just beginning to lay are not good setters. Extra large or odd-shaped eggs should not be used for hatching. Fasten a small box to the side of the house to hold oyster shells, ground bone or grit. At no time is It desirable to feed poultry an exclusive grain diet; they need more bulky food. One advantage with ducks about the yard and garden is that they do not scratch, although they are voracious eaters. It requires an average of ten pounds of grain to feed Incubator ’chickens ten weeks. At first they will need less than one pound a week and at last more.