REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER 93 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Question. — What number of fowls should a farmer keep? 



Answer. — Not more than he can profitably manage, say from 50 to 250, according 

 to circumstances. 



Question. — What number of chickens should a farmer hatch and rear? 



Answer. — If hens are used as hatching mediums, from 50 to 100. If incubator 

 and brooders, from 150 to 250. Much depends upon his liking for and knowledge of 

 the work and the time at his disposal. Whether hatched by incubator or hens he should 

 have all his chickens, if at all possible, hatched by end of the first or second week of 

 May, so that the pullets will be early layers and the spare cockerels ready for early 

 market. 



Question. — What are the best methods of operation of an incubator and brooder? 

 Answer. — Full instructions accompany each incubator and brooder. Any devia- 

 tion from these instructions is at the risk of the operator. 



Question. — What are the prices of incubators and brooders ? 



Answer. — From $10 to $29 for incubators of from 60 to 240 eggs capacity. 

 Larger machines are higher in price. Brooders range from $5 to $15, according to 

 size. 



Question. — Can turkey, geese and duck eggs be hatched in incubators? 

 Answer. — Yes, particularly duck eggs. 



Question. — Will you name a ration suitable for egg production in winter? 



Answer. — The following ration has been used in our department with great suc- 

 cess for several years, viz. : 



Morning. — Wheat, sometimes buckwheat, in proportion of 8 to 10 pounds to 100 

 fowls. Scatter in the litter on the floor of house or scratching shed attachment. 



11 a.m. — Steamed lawn clippings, or clover hay, three or four times per week. 



Noon. — If found necessary, oats in proportion of 5 lbs. to 100 hens. Scatter in 

 litter on the floor to keep the fowls busy. 



Afternoon. — Mash, composed of such ground grains as are in most abundance. 

 Feed in quantity of 3 or 4 ounces to each fowl. When mixing the mash add a small 

 teaspoonful of salt, and another of black pepper, or ground ginger. Occasionally mix 

 boiled potatoes or turnips in the mash. 



Cut green bone or other form of meat should be given in the proportion of one 

 pound to 15 fowls, three or four times per week, in lieu of the steamed lawn clippings, 

 clover hay or noon ration. 



It is requisite for the good health of the fowls and to prevent egg eating and 

 feather picking that the rations should be varied and regularly fed. Grit, mangels, 

 turnips or other form of vegetable food should be in regular supply. 



Question. — Will you name a ration that will successfully bring young chickens 

 from hatching to marketable age? 



Answer. — The following will be found effective: — First day — Little or no food 

 is required. Towards end of the day a few stale bread crumbs may be fed. Second 

 day — Stale bread soaked in nailk and squeezed dry may be given in small quantity. 

 Feed a little at a time and leave none on the platform. A little hard boiled egg finely 

 cut up may be added with benefit. Continue this for a day or two and add granu- 

 lated oatmeal; finely crushed wheat may be given at tliis time. Continue the stale 

 bread soaked in milk and granulated oatmeal for ten days, when finely crushed corn 

 may be added to the foregoing with ndvantnge. After 14 days give whole wheat in 

 small quantity at first. As the chicks grow older they should be given a mash com- 

 posed of stale bread, shorts, cornmeal, ground meat, &c. Finely cut bone or meat will 

 be found a great incentive to growth at this stage. On the chickens becoming eight 

 weeks of age their rations may be dropped to tlireo per day. Care should be taken 

 that they are generously fed at last ration. For drink give skimmed milk and water. 



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