FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 601 



recommended. Most people do not feed chicks until they are twenty- 

 four hours old, and some advise waiting as long as seventy-two hours. 

 Young chicks should be fed often and sparingly. Nature's way is surely 

 50od, and that is, a seed here, a bug there, a sip of dew or water, a tiny 

 grain of sand, a bit of charcoal, a blade of grass or clover leaf, a bite of 

 fresh strawberry or other fruit, and so on the day through. At night 

 the young chick has had a great round, following the mother hen, who 

 tries very hard to find all the good things possible for her babies. 



Most poultry writers bring out quite strongly the need of a variety 

 cf food, as we all know that poultry as well as ourselves should tire 

 very soon of one thing to eat morning, noon and night. The only hin- 

 drance here is the fact that farmers as a rule are careless in providing 

 these different grains. A small piece of millet and wheat should be sown 

 even though the men think they can not spare the ground which they 

 must have for corn. 



Hens are fond of eating in a small rape patch, and a plot of sun- 

 flowers makes an excellent shade in summer, and the seeds if fed spar- 

 ingly in winter are good. 



I believe every farmer, next to a good warm hen house, should pro- 

 vide a large cave in which vegetables of all kinds may be stored for the 

 winter's feed. Too many farmers think any kind of a building is^ good 

 enough for the hens, but they are gradually becoming convinced of the 

 fact that there is money in poultry, and when they see the money side 

 they are ready and willing tO' improve surroundings. 



A good supply of clover should not be overlooked, as hens are very 

 fond of clover as a winter feed. Plenty of dust should also be provided. 

 Culling should not be lost sight of. The pure bred scrub in poultry is 

 equally as dangerous as in any other farm stock. We oftentimes look and 

 hesitate too long before w^e market or use ax on inferior birds. Unless we 

 exercise the greatest care we will be troubled with various diseases, as 

 roup, cholera, scale leg. with probably other troubles. 



There are dozens of remedies for mites and white lice, but preven- 

 tion is best. Coal tar painted over the walls and perches is claimed to 

 be death on mites. Kerosene emulsion is also claimed to be good as a 

 dip for white lice and as a spray for mites. 



Various remedies are given for cholera, Venetian red in drinking 

 vvater, or a small amount of copperas or camphor gum. One lady uses 

 common soda and a spoonful of lime in drinking water with good results. 



The poultry business is an honest and independent one, and there 

 is money in it if rightly conducted, though it requires courage, care- 

 fulness and much time and labor. 



Of course we can't all be farmers and poultry raisers, nor do we 

 wish to be, as country life is not all roses and no thorns, but it is a 

 more simple, natural, healthful life, and if we wish to make a real suc- 

 cess of poultry raising or any other business we must gain all the knowl- 

 edge possible from others, and as Josh Billings says: "It strikes me 

 that it is a great deal cheaper to learn from other folks' experience than 

 to Ifet them learn from ours." Then, use good common sense, and if 

 we are really in love with the work we are sure to win. 



