152 



TJie Country Gentlcinaiis Magazine 



We set our hens in boxes that have covers, 

 so one hen cannot bother another. They are 

 placed along the house in rows of fifteen or 

 thereabout — some on the floor, others about 

 3 feet from the floor. When a hen wants to 

 set, we put thirteen eggs in one of these 

 boxes, sprinkle a handful of wood ashes over 

 them — sometimes we put in a stalk or two of 

 tansy— put her in, shut down the cover, and 

 bid her good-bye for two days. Then we 

 raise the cover and take her out (she would 

 stay on longer if permitted). See that she 

 has plenty of feed and drink, put another 

 handful of ashes on the eggs, put the hen on 

 again, and cover her up. In this way we 

 succeed in keeping a hen sitting for two or 

 three months. Our nests are placed in dark 

 places, which, we think, makes it easier to 

 accomplish the above. 



The tansy and ashes placed in the nest 

 tend to keep oft' lice, but are not warranted. 

 Eight days before the hen is to come off, we 

 sprinkle the eggs with cold water when she is 

 oft' the nest feeding ; this prevents the eggs 

 getting too hot and the chickens dying in the 

 shell. 



We are not bothered much with the gapes. 

 We have lost but one chicken with them, and 

 his head was cut off to help him along, so he 

 did not die of gapes. We try to prevent, but 

 not to cure. Large quantities of black and 

 red pepper are mixed with their food two or 

 three times a-week. 



During 1870 we were troubled with cholera 

 in our fowls, losing some twenty ; this year 

 we have lost none. Our preventive is alum, 



two or three times a-week, in their drink. 

 Our chickens sometimes get crop bound ; 

 we succeeded in curing one very valuabla 

 one by cutting open his crop, taking out the 

 hard mass, sewing the wound, and feeding on 

 soft food for two or three days. 



One word about ducks, as everybody 

 declares that they eat their heads off. We 

 commenced on a small scale, not having any 

 old ones. Result : — 



Dr. Dol. Dol. 



To 250 eggs, 6.00 



,, feed, 20.25 



26.25 



Cr. 



]5y 35 clucks sold, 22.04 



,, feathers, 1.50 



,, 35 ducks on hand, I7-50 



41.04 



Total profit, 14-79 



We have had what we consider bad luck ; 

 we bought 250 eggs, nearly three-quarters of 

 which were bad and did not hatch. 



The feed for our 900 chickens and the 

 eggs for hatching the chicks have cost 157 

 dols.— about 17^ cents each. We gene- 

 rally calculate that their manure will pay for 

 all the labour in hatching and rearing. We 

 have also tried an experiment in fattening 

 fowls. W^e put 60 chickens in our corn-crib 

 and fed eight days on corn. Result : — 



Weight when taken out, 2501b. 



do. do. put in, 227 



Gain on the 60 fowls, at cost of 7 cents per lb. 23 lb. 



