27G STATE BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. 



with such cave they will lay without coaxing. Once every two weeks clean out 

 the droppings luuler the roost. Sprinkle the nests with sulphur, rub the roost- 

 poles with kerosene oil, and if you have any indication of lice, put a little 

 ointment made of sulphur and kerosene oil, equal parts of each, under the 

 wings of the fowls, about the breast and legs, and on the head. In one end of 

 the house keep a good sized box full of coal ashes, or in lieu of these finely 

 pulverized earth gathered the previous summer from the roads. Such a dust 

 box is used with evident show of satisfaction by the fowls and helps wonderfully 

 to keep the birds in perfect health. Old phister or ground oyster shells should 

 also be given to the fowls. 



Sjn'ing Management. 



In March set your hens. This secures early chickens, which will make cap- 

 ital roasts for Thanksgiving and plenteous eggs for the following winter. The 

 larger Asiatic breeds will cover 15 eggs to the hen ; the smaller European 

 breeds not more than 13. Cover the sitting hens with a wire or picket screen, 

 so that no other hens shall trouble them, and keep them well supplied with 

 food and drink. Keep the nests well sprinkled with sulphur; but do not anoint 

 sitting hens, as eggs touched with kerosene are rendered worthless. On the 19th 

 or 20th day it will be well to immerse the eggs, especially with the Asiatic breeds, 

 for one-half hour in warm water, else the chickens may not be able to liber- 

 ate themselves from the tough shells. If the nest is made on a thick sod, this 

 Avill supply moisture, and the immersion will not be necessary. If the hen 

 leaves the nest, even till the eggs get thoroughly cold, do not get nervous. 

 Doubtless her ladyship knows her business. I have known eggs to be cold for 

 hours, and yet receive no harm. I have reason to think that the heart of the 

 embryo chicken may commence beating again with returning warmth, even 

 though it had stopped for a brief time because of a long chill. It is well 

 to assure ourselves that the inclination to sit is strong before we supply the 

 eggs, though with Brahmas this is not very essential. 



The young chicken should be kept in dry, warm, clean coops, and must be 

 constantly supplied with clean water and nourishing food. Scalded mush, 

 hard-boiled eggs, and crumbs of bread and boiled potatoes are all excellent 

 food for young chickens. A single hen will safely brood 20 or 30 chickens, 

 and two broods, if hatched about the same time will be kindly received by 

 either mother, and at quite a gain in prospective eggs. 



After setting all the liens desired I should advise killing or selling all the 

 cocks, as they should not be allowed to run with the hens in late spring and 

 summer. 



Summer Care of Foulirg. 



At this season the meat and vegetable part of the food may be omitted if the 

 liens can have free run, otherwise, the diet of winter should be continued. In 

 this last case, the dust box and ground oyster shells, or pieces of plaster, 

 should never be neglected. Now the cleansing of the house should be frequent 

 and thorough. Keep the lime for whitewash, the kerosene bottle, the carbolic 

 acid solution, and the sulphur box in easy reach, so that there will be no excuse 

 for neglect, liemove the droppings once a week. A comprehensive rule under 

 this head is : never allow the poultry house to smell bad, which condition will 

 only follow upon thorough cleanliness and ventilation. 



At this season, if other breeds than the Leghorns, Spanish, and llamburgs 



