Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1916 — Poultry Pointers [ARTICLE]

Poultry Pointers

Chickens should he hatched early according to the period of maturity of the breed used, so that they will commence to lay when the last years hens are beginning to molt, and the price of eggs is high. Some kind of a grinding machine is necessary on every - farmer ---uuiklng chop or crushing grain, especially for the young chickens, which, alter the first week or two will eat almost anything which is ground finely enough. It is not the number of birds that will guarantee better results next season than you had this year, but the quality of the birds. Anything that is tough and stringy, like strong grass, pieces of muscle-in meat, etc., should not be fed to the fowls, for it is likely to become lodged in the crop and produce crop-bound. Be sure that nothing moldy or musty is fed to the fowls or chicks and that they do not find moldy material when on free range, as mold causes canker and other dangerous troubles. It is seldom that any money is saved by economizing when buying poultry feed. The cheapest food to feed is that which, will keep the hen healthy and make her lay well. Avoid crowding of chicks by keeping them in small flocks and by providing roomy coops. Thin out if there are too many. Cockerels in good condition bring a fancy price in the market. Common sense is an important fac- ’ tor in the poultry yard. It is most important never to select eggs for hatching from hens which have been laying heavily. The best are those which have been laid after a hard winter or a period of rest. Equal parts of boiled oats, corn and wheat, with now and then the addition of table scraps makes a good eggproducing ration. In the breeding pens the roosters should be changed whenever necessary ; inbreeding produces weak progeny.