72 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



tMay, 



able, may be answered: By such treatment 

 of the fowls as will produce the largest yield 

 both in quantity and quality of meat and eggs 

 from a given number. 



While it is, without doubt, an advantage to 

 start with a good breed, still more will depend 

 upon the proper treatment of the fowls. In 

 fact, continuous good treatment, with careful 

 and judicious selection in breeding, will, in 

 the course of time, greatly improve, if not 

 altogether change a breed, while indifference 

 and neglect in this respect will deteriorate 

 and often destroy the special good qualities of 

 the fowls. 



In support of this assertion I need only refer 

 to the fact well knovm to those who have 

 given the subject their attention, that many 

 of those now considered distinct breeds, are 

 only the result of careful selection and breed- 

 ing with a defiuite object for successive gen- 

 erations. 



The destiny of a chicken, like the misfor- 

 tunes of "Tristram Shandy," may be said to 

 begin before it is born. It is quite important 

 at what time in the year it leaves the shell to 

 begin its breathing life. The beginning of 

 April I consider a favorable season. That is 

 as early as it can be comfortably raised with- 

 out artificial heat. It will then be sufficiently 

 advanced to forage the fields after harvest ; 

 fatten on grasshoppers and crickets, and begin 

 to furnish eggs before Christmas. 



In selecting eggs for setting, take those that 

 are well formed and perfect, refecting such as 

 are under or over size, or oddly shaped, and 

 preferring those newly laid to old ones. An 

 egg a week or two old will require a day or 

 two longer hatching. There is an old notion 

 entertained by some people that pointed eggs 

 ■will produce males, and round ones females. 

 I will not undertake to vouch for the correct- 

 ness of this theory, but in selecting mostly 

 rounded eggs for setting have succeeded in 

 obtaining about three to one of pullets. 



There seems to be a difference of opinion as 

 to the proper manner of preserving eggs for 

 hatching, some contending that they should 

 be placed in an upright position, small end 

 down. I prefer to let them take their natural 

 or side position, keeping them in a moderately 

 cool place, and turning them gently ouce a 

 day. The turning is to prevent the yolk and 

 air bubble getting out of place. While turning 

 may not be absolutely necessary it is but little 

 trouble and may as well be done out of abun- 

 dant caution, particularly if the eggs are to 

 be kept for any length of time. It is well 

 known that the hen turns her eggs frequently 

 while hatching. 



No more eggs should be given than the hen 

 can easily cover, nine or ten for an ordinary 

 sized bird are enough. To give more is a penny- 

 wise and pound-foolish act, and like greed, in 

 most eases, defeats its own ends. A few more 

 chicks may be brought out from a larger set- 

 ting, but they will, all of them, be weaker 

 from lack of animal heat and insufficient 

 covering during incubation, and unless the 

 weather is favorable and extra care be taken 

 some are certain to die. 



In selecting your hens for hatching take 

 such as are gentle, healthy and well feathered, 

 in preference to the heavy, awkward or wild 

 ones. 



When sufficient determination is manifested 

 by the bird to keep the nest, give her enough 

 of clean, soft straw or hay, meadow hay being 

 best ; remove what may be soiled or filthy, 

 and it will be well to cover the bottom of the 

 nest box with an inch or two of moderately 

 dry earth or sand before putting the hay into 

 place. It is contended by some, and not 

 without some show of reason, that contact 

 with the ground or earth adds strength to the 

 chicks. The nest, of course, should be under 

 a roof, and protected as much as possible 

 against the intrusion of other fowls or ani- 

 mals ; a screen of some kind should be placed 

 in front so that the process of incubation may 

 go on without interruption or disturbance, 

 leaving an open passage for the hen to get off 

 and on at pleasure, to get her meals ami take 

 a run over the gra&s^ or a roll in the sand. 



Feed and water should be kept at a convenient 

 place not far from the nest, where she will be 

 sure to find it. 



Hens while hatching generally feed in the 

 morning. Then, while they are off, is the 

 proper time to examine the nest, and see that 

 it is all right. If new eggs have been laid in 

 it,- or any of them have been broken, as some- 

 times happens, they should be removed, and 

 any soiled portion of the nest be renewed with 

 clean material. Should any of the eggs be 

 soiled, they can be washed in moderately 

 warm water. 



Sometimes a hen becomes so attached to the 

 nest as to neglect feed and drink, and would 

 starve herself unless cared for. In such case 

 she should be gently lifted off and carried to 

 where feed and water are kept. Always handle 

 gently and treat kindly if you expect good re- 

 turns. This is one of the great secrets of suc- 

 cess in the treatment of all animals. In lift- 

 ing a hen from tlie nest the hands should be 

 in.serted between the wings and body, as some 

 of the eggs are often lield in that position, 

 and if lifted without this precaution will be 

 dropped and broken. 



By marking the eggs that comprise the set- 

 ting, with a lead pencil, they can be more 

 readily told from such as may be laid in the 

 nest afterwards, and facilitate their removal. 



A record should be kept of the time of the 

 setting ; a convenient mode for this purpose 

 is to attach a label with date to the nest box. 



We all know, ever since we have been old 

 enough to hunt for eggs, that the usual time 

 required to hatch chickens is three weeks; 

 under favorable circumstances twenty days. 

 A day or two previous to their putting in an 

 appearance the hen and nest should be dusted 

 with some insect destroying powder ; this will 

 drive oif any lice or other parasites that may 

 be present, and give the young a clean start 

 in life. 



I am decidedly opposed to the application 

 of grease or salves. The bath of a fowl is 

 literally a dry one. They make their toilet 

 without soap or water, and all the ointment 

 they need nature provides for them through a 

 small gland on the rump. 



During the time the chicks are leaving the 

 eggs but little assistance can be given besides 

 the removal of the empty shells, and such of 

 the eggs as prove bad. Occasionally, wheu 

 the shell appears too strong for the chick to 

 break through, its cracking may be assisted 

 by a gentle pressure of the liand. but no part 

 of the inside lining can be removed without 

 great risk of bad results, and would better not 

 be attempted by an inexperienced person. 

 The coop that is to receive the young brood 

 should be ready by May 1st. Its shape and 

 construction is of little importance so that it 

 is clean and dry. It should be placed under 

 some roof, where it is protected from rain 

 storms and the hot rays of the sun, and where 

 cattle are not likely to trample the young. The 

 wagon siied is generally a good place. The 

 ground should be raked clean ; hay-seed to the 

 depth of a few inches scattered over it and 

 the coop placed upon it. 



The use of hay seed I consider quite im- 

 portant ; it answers several good purposes — 

 as a suitable nestling place for the young ; as 

 a means of diversion and contentment, in 

 which they can amuse themselves by scratch- 

 ing ; and, lastly, it forms a part of their food. 

 It is astonishing how much liay seed a brood 

 of young chickens will pick up during the 

 course of a day, and it serves them a good 

 purpose, when eaten with other more solid 

 food, and prevents their being surfeited. 

 Young chickens are injured as often by over- 

 feeding ashy the want of food, and when they 

 have hay-seed they are not so likely to over- 

 eat themselves. Of course the hay-seed should 

 be kept clean and should not be allowed to re- 

 main after it has become mixed with tlie 

 droppings of the chicks. My rule is to give 

 it to them clean every morning the first four 

 weeks of their lives. This can be managed 

 without much trouble to yourself or disturb- 

 ance of the hen and her family, if you have 

 room on the ground twice the size of the bot- 



tom of the coop. In the morning prepare a 

 bed of clean hay-seed alongside of the coop, 

 then move it over upon it, keeping the hen in 

 the coop, which should have no floor. Re- 

 move last night's bed, raking the ground 

 clean and even ; next morning prepare a bed 

 of new hay-seed in the old place and move the 

 coop back. Make this change once a day, or 

 at least once every two days, and you will be 

 surprised what a happy, thriving and con- 

 tented family you will have. Every change 

 of the coop will invest both sites with new in- 

 terest ; they will peck and scratch among the 

 fresh seed, and roll, stretch and dust them- 

 selves where last night's bed has been removed. 

 It may be suggested to do all this will take 

 more attention than can well be spared from 

 other necessary duties on the farm. If the 

 adult members have not the time I see no reason 

 why the care of the young chickens, after 

 they are once in the coop, should not be en- 

 trusted to the younger members of the family, 

 under the supervision of the master or mis- 

 tress. Children from ten years upwards can, 

 with a little assistance now and then, do all 

 the work ; and it will be a benefit to them at 

 the same time. Keep them employed and out 

 of mischief; cause them to feel that they are 

 a help instead of a burden to their parents ; 

 cultivate in them habits of industry, useful- 

 ness and self-respect, with kind encourage- 

 ment, pointing out to them the habits or 

 peculiarities of the brood in their charge, in- 

 structing them how to contrive coops and 

 other appliances ; they will become interested 

 in the matter, and their duties will be a 

 pleasure and satisfaction. Then they should 

 be allowed to own some of them, or they 

 should be rewarded by some of the fruits of 

 their labor, and the duties faithfully performed 

 in the shape of a new hat, dress, or some 

 other desirable juvenile article, purchased out 

 of the proceeds of the flock raised by their 

 care. 



The most suitable food for young chickens, 

 during the first two or three weeks of their 

 lives, is hard-boiled eggs mixed with corn- 

 meal, and cornmeal slightly moistened with 

 milk. The first day chicks need little or no 

 feed ; but the lien should be allowed a good 

 portion to recruit after a three weeks' hatch- 

 ing. They should be fed at least three times 

 a day, and not too much at a time ; allow no 

 sour or mouldy feed to remain about the 

 coop ; and above all things avoid giving them 

 bread soaked in water, or feed that is very 

 wet. It will purge them to death. Table 

 scraps, and boiled meat cut fine is greatly 

 relished, and if allowed to be eaten out of the 

 hand will tend to make them tame and tract- 

 able. They are tid bits, however, and should 

 be fed sparingly ; earth worms, grasshoppers 

 and tlie young out of wasp nests are equally 

 beneficial, and the person having charge of 

 the chickens can employ his leisure hours 

 with profit and satisfaction by procuring a 

 limited quantity of either for them occasion- 

 ally. When the chicks are two or three 

 weeks old, some fine afternoon when the grass 

 is dry, the coop may be lifted off and the hen 

 allowed a run with them until evening. Then, 

 also, wheat screenings and cracked corn can 

 be given along with other food. 



Things to be Avoided. 



Do not place your coops in the open field, 

 yard, or orchard, where rains will soak and 

 the rays of the sun beat down upon them. 



Do not give them more soft or moistened 

 feed at one time than they will eat ; nor allow 

 them, if possible, access to impure water. 

 And remember that wet and fillli are the 

 greatest enemies to fowls, whether old or 

 young. 



Do not allow the young to run through the 

 wet grass or be caught in a shower. 



When the young chickens are about to 

 leave their mother, or what amounts to the 

 same thing, she is about to leave them, decide 

 for them their future roosting place and train 

 them to go there in the evening. 



If you want any for table use take those of 

 inferior quality, and keep your best to stock 

 your ;yard. Take them quietly from the roost 



