600 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Value of all poultry raised in the State in 1899 was $9,491,819, mak- 

 ing an average of $95.86 per county. 



Eggs produced in the State in 1899 were 99,621,920 dozen; value, 

 $10,016,707. Of this enormous amount of poultry raised in the State, 

 there was but one county (Linn) that surpassed Jasper county, the 

 number of fowls in this county being: Chickens, 235,273; turkeys, 

 5,490; geese, 2.541; and ducks, 7.112. Value of poultry raised in Jasper 

 •county in 1899 was $153,960. 



There were nine counties that had a greater number of eggs than 

 t)urs. though our county had almost 400,000 dozen more than the average 

 for the State, which is 1,006,282 dozen, our county having 1,403.980 dozen. 



When we note the fact that all this property is exempt from taxa- 

 tion we surely have no cause to complain of the poultry industry al- 

 though it is usually considered by farmers to be of minor importance, 

 "something for the women to do;" yet we find by comparing statistics 

 that the poultry industry is not far behind other interests on the farm. 



One thing in favor of poultry is the fact that "they scratch for their 

 living." at least six months in the year, and by so doing pick up grain 

 that would otherwise be lost, besides destroying many seeds from differ- 

 ent weeds and eating innumerable destructive insects. Some poultry 

 raisers claim that chickens can not be fed to excess, by becoming too fat 

 to lay; others that they can. That may depend largely on the breed 

 and surroundings. My experience has been that they may be overfed, 

 especially when closely housed in cold weather. This may be avoided 

 by judicious feeding and plenty of exercise obtained by allowing the hens 

 to scratch for most of their food, which they do most willingly. The 

 happiest, most contented creatures to be found are a flock of healthy, 

 singing hens, digging after the grain of wheat, oats or corn that they are 

 sure to find among the straw. 



A few of the essentials to success in poultry raising are, regularity 

 in feeding, a variety of sweet, wholesome food, with sufficient exercise 

 in fresh air; protection from storms and cold winds by having a sub- 

 stantial, well ventilated building in winter and an abundance of shade 

 in summer and plenty of fresh water and sweet milk. 



In speaking of the care and management of chicks, I shall give a 

 few plans from different breeders. I. K. Belch's bill of fare for chickens 

 is: First meal after being taken from nest should be. boiled eggs chopped 

 fine, shells and all; also baked corncake crumbled into scalded milk. 

 No fluid as drink but the scalded milk. 



One lady advises never to give chicks over 20 per cent corn, and 

 until four weeks old no corn. T^e food given under her system is small 

 seeds, cr^acked grain, animal meal and sweet milk, a good supply of 

 chick grit and bluegrass range. 



The result of inquiry from fourteen ladies in regard to feeding young 

 chicks is as follows: Two, feed corn meal moistened with cold water; 

 twoi bread soaked in water or milk; one, hard boiled egg with pepper 

 added, afterward soaked bread; nine, use dry feed, bread crumbs, oat 

 meal, dry corn meal, with prepared chicken food, plenty of grit and water 

 and milk. All warn against overfeeding. A variety of food is usually 



