April, 1921 



CARE OF BREEDING FOWLS 



POULTRY specialists connected with the United 

 States Department of Agriculture advise that 

 if cockerels or pullets are to be used in the breed- 

 ing flocks they should be well matured. Hens, 

 according to these specialists, are better than pul- 

 lets. They lay larger eggs which produce stronger 

 chicks. Yearling and two-year-old hens are better 

 than the older ones. Pullets, if they are used as 

 breeders, should be mated with a cock rather than 

 a cockerel. If a cockerel is used he should be 

 mated with pullets. Generally well matured cock- 

 erels will give better fertility than cocks. 



When possible free range should be given to the 

 breeding stock. It is considered better to pro- 

 vide it during the fall and winter before the breed- 

 ing season, but if this is not possible, free range 

 just preceding and during the breeding season will 

 be of great value. Birds on free range will get 

 more exercise and will therefore be in better health 

 to give higher fertility, better hatches and stronger 

 chicks. 



Breeding flocks need careful watching to make 

 sure that the fowls keep in good breeding condi- 

 tion. The birds and houses should be examined 

 often to see that they are not infested with lice 

 or mites. Either of these pests in any numbers 

 will seriously and often totally destroy fertility. 



In feeding the breeding flock the breeders should 

 be fed so as to keep them in the best of condi- 

 tion to produce eggs. Any good laying ration is 

 suitable for this purpose. A point that should not 

 be overlooked is to examine the breeding male 

 after feeding to see that his crop is full and that 

 he is not growing thin. This should be done be- 

 cause some males will allow the hens to eat all the 

 feed with the result that they get out of condi- 

 tion. 



Provide the breeding stock with a house that is 

 draft proof, yet well ventilated and dry. With the 

 above precautions observed the result should be a 

 high percentage of vigorous, strongly-bred chicks. 



BETTER FRUIT 



FEEDING YOUNG CHICKS 



WATER and fine grit is the first food that 

 should be given young chicks if they are 

 artificially hatched. This should be given from 40 

 to 60 hours after they emerge from the shells. If 

 the chicks are being brooded with hens the first 

 grain and grit may be given at the same time. One 

 of the best grain feeds for young chicks is chicken 

 rolled oats which is fed in small quantities from 

 four to five times a day for the first three or four 

 days. At the end of this time any good brand of 

 commercial chick feed may be gradually added to 

 the* oats, until in a week the larger part of the 

 ration is commercial chick feed. In two weeks 

 the rolled oats may be discontinued entirely. 



The young chicks should be kept active from 

 the start as activity is essential to their health and 

 development. By feeding them small quantities 

 frequently they are kept moving and not liable 

 to become chilled. This frequent feeding in little 

 amounts applies to their care during the day. At 

 night they may be given all they will eat. It is 

 not good practice to give chicks under the age of 

 five days a mash of any kind. Grains cracked fine 

 are the best tissue and muscle builder for young 

 chicks. While there are other ways of starting to 

 feed young chicks this method is one of the 

 most successful used by expert poultrymen. 



POULTRY NOTES 



you intend to sell broilers they are more 



Page 23 



■m. profitable at 

 larger. 



nd and a half than when 



SUNFLOWERS planted along the edge of the 

 poultry yard make shade in summer and ex- 

 cellent feed in the fall and winter. 



AAA 



IN building nests make them big enough so that 

 the hens can get in and out without breaking 

 the eggs. The entrance to the nests should be 

 made in the back, so that they will be dark. 



AAA 



TOO much care cannot be given to cleanliness 

 in the poultry house and yard. Clean nests are 

 very essential in producing clean eggs. Change the 

 nest material quite frequently and as a precau- 

 tion against insects burn the discarded material. 



A LITTLE salt added to the sprouted oats will 

 be relished by poultry as a change. 



AAA 



IT IS well to remember that it is the early 

 hatched pullets that produce eggs in the fall 

 and winter when prices are high. 

 AAA 



ATABLESPOONFUL of charcoal added every 

 other day to the soft food of fowls will 

 brighten up their combs and tone up their systems. 

 AAA 



IT IS interesting to note that it is the heavy 

 laying breeds of chickens that lay a white egg. 

 The general purpose breeds lay brown eggs. 

 AAA 



IF YOU have a flower garden save the poultry 

 droppings to fertilize it. There is no better 

 fertilizer to help in growing fine flowers. 



AAA 



CLOVER and alfalfa leaves thrown in the litter 

 will be good food for the flock until they can 

 get on the range in the spring or be given some 

 other form of green food. 



AAA 



ALMOST as soon as the young chick can eat 

 it will drink water. A bountiful supply of 

 pure, fresh water is therefore necessary at all times. 

 See that it is placed where the chicks can get at it 

 easily. 



AAA 



TO PLUMP a dressed fowl dip it for ten 

 seconds in water nearly or quite boiling hot 

 and then immediately plunge it into cold water. It 

 should then be hung in a cool place until the 

 animal heat is entirely out. The fowl will be given 

 a much more attractive appearance for market by 

 this process. 



AAA 



THE Oregon Agricultural College experiment 

 station calls attention to the fact that hens 

 fed for egg production should get feed containing 

 the food elements found in the egg. An analysis 

 of the egg shows that it is composed of ash 12.2 

 per cent ; water 65.7 per cent ; protein 11.4 per 

 cent; and fat 8.9 per cent. The hen cannot coun- 

 terfeit her product, so must be supplied with the 

 necessary raw materials or she cannot manufacture 

 the finished product. 



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