58 BIGGIE POULTRY BOOK. 



and when the right fowl gets his feet within the circle of the 

 cord, pull quick and you have him. 



Clover hay is excellent for laying hens. It is rich in the 

 chemical qualities needed in producing eggs. It is also much 

 cheaper than to feed them altogether on grain. Give them grain 

 at night, but in the morning take a pail two-thirds full of fine 

 cut clover and cover with boiling water, cover closely and let it 

 steam until the clover is swelled, then add enough meal, ground 

 oats or bran to make a crumbly mass. 



Two handy coops are shown in the illustrations. Figure i has 

 ends made of canvas or bagging, and Figure 2 

 is provided with a sliding false 

 ' side, which may be drawn to the 



FIG. i. front by means of the pole, thus FIG. 2. 

 bringing the chickens within reach. 



Here are some of the many causes why chicks die in the 

 shell : eggs from immature pullets ; cock too fat ; hens too fat ; 

 hens beginning to moult ; shells of eggs too thick ; cock inactive ; 

 feeding highly-seasoned food ; lack of exercise of hens ; exposing 

 the eggs just when the chicks are coming out ; lack of bulky 

 food for hen; natural weakness of parents, in-breeding ; lack 

 of vigor in male ; inherent lack of vitality in chicks ; too close 

 and persistent sitting by the hen, thus overheating the eggs ; 

 hens once affected with the roup ; cockerel not matured. 



A good condition powder for laying hens or fattening stock : 

 Ground bone, one pound (phosphoric r ^id and lime) ; ground 

 meat or blood, three pounds (nitrogenous, forming albumen) ; 

 linseed meal, one-half pound (nitrogenous, carbonaceous and 

 laxative, used for regulating the bowels) ; charcoal, one pound 

 (used for promoting digestion and assisting to correct acidity) ; 

 salt, half pound (very necessary, and often neglected) ; ground 

 ginger, two ounces ; red pepper, one tablespoonful ; gentian, 

 one ounce (stimulant and corrective) ; citrate of iron and 

 ammonia, one ounce (an invigorator of the system). A small 

 handful daily to each ten fowls in soft feed. 



A good condition powder for sick fowls : gentian, one pound ; 

 red pepper, half ounce ; salt, one ounce ; citrate of iron and 

 ammonia, one ounce; Peruvian bark, one ounce; black anti- 

 mony, one ounce ; charcoal, half a pound. Give a tablespoonful 

 to two hens in the soft feed once a day. 



