1903 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
3i 
1 
AN EXPERIENCE WITH HENS. 
I built, my henhouse 15x45, double 
pitch roof, one-third pitch, with over¬ 
head filled with straw. Sides and fioor 
are double-boarded with heavy tarred 
paper between. I have double spring 
hinges on inside doors, roost platforms 
30 inches high with roost poles one foot 
above. There are three pens 15x15 feet. 
I put in 40 hens and pullets per pen, all 
pullets but five or six per pen. Some 
of the pullets are quite young, but some 
are laying. Yesterday (December 7) we 
got 15 eggs, the day before 14. We sell 
our eggs at 30 and 32 cents per dozen 
delivered at the door at Franklin, Pa., 
with butter and other produce. The 
chickens do not pay for their board yet. 
If this cold snap makes them shut down 
business it will be hard on the pocket- 
book. They eat nearly 50 cents worth 
of feed per day. I feed quarts of 
wheat scattered in litter in the morn¬ 
ing, clover hay and apples, beets or 
mangels at noofi; at 3.30 P. M. they get 
a mash made up of 100 pounds corn- 
meal, 100 pounds wheat bran, 50 pounds 
wheat middlings, 100 pounds ground 
oats and 70 pounds beef scrap. I have a 
little more ground oats in the batch I 
am feeding now, but they do not like it 
so well as above amount. I give what 
they eat up quickly of the above mash, 
and feed a little corn just before dark. 
The mash is mixed up with boiling 
water right after dinner. I have self¬ 
feed box arranged to hold gravel, char¬ 
coal, oyster shells and old plaster or 
bone. They eat large quantities of 
gravel. I get it at a nearby stream, and 
sift first through a sieve with holes 
three to the inch to take out stones, and 
then through one with eight meshes to 
the inch to take out sand. The sand is 
used to sprinkle upon roosts to prevent 
droppings from sticking, and small 
stones are used for gravel walk. I use 
old, or new six-quart, milk pans for 
water; take an old potato crate, set on 
end and nail two hoards to sides with 
board over to just high enough for the 
pan to slip in easily; have the top board 
three Inches narrower than the pan. 
The hens stand on top to drink and do 
not get themselves and everything else 
all wet while they drink. This house 
cost me $45 or $1 per foot of length in 
cash. I did the work between showers 
the past Summer. I was counting on 
getting half of my hens to laying during 
the Winter, but on reading Cornell Bul¬ 
letin No. 204 I changed my mind. It 
may be the bulletin is wrong; at least I 
hope to get more eggs than it reports. 
I had four pullets lay 300 eggs in three 
months last Spring. They were kept 
in a pen 3x10 and four feet high in 
one corner of cow stable. I save the 
manure to use on corn with my Eclipse 
corn planter, and much is used in the 
garden and truck patch. w. h. m. 
Black Ash, Pa. 
WINTER CARE OF SHEEP. 
The term ‘‘Spring poor” is sometimes 
applied to sheep that have come through 
the Winter in such wretched condition 
that they lean against the fence and 
have scarcely strength enough to bleat. 
A cold shed, a narrow and skimpy ra¬ 
tion, and no regular supply of water 
will contribute to this result. In parts 
of the East it was formerly the custom 
of some farmers to let the sheep stay oat 
of doors practically all Winter, their 
only shelter being thick bushes and the 
lee side of haystacks. Naturally none 
but the most hardy breeds could thrive 
under such treatment. Yet these ani¬ 
mals were better cared for than many 
now shut up in yards. The warm side 
of a haystack is not a bad place to sleep 
—better than a shed with wide cracks 
between the boards, and a draft which 
cannot be dodged. A dark basement 
with no ventilation and a damp and 
filthy floor is still worse. 
The change from pasture to dry hay 
is violent, especially if the hay be poor. 
and but little grain and no roots given. 
Here again the outdoor flock had the 
advantage. If the feeder gave them only 
hay. they could use the sheep sense in¬ 
herited from their wild ancestors by 
browsing bushes and even gnawing out 
grass roots in bare spots in the field, 
thus getting a varied ration. And what 
man would care to be driven down a 
slippery path to the brook once a day, 
probably in the morning, when he was 
cold and did not feel like drinking ice 
water? It is to be hoped that these are 
exceptional conditions, yet the writer 
has seen them all, and the resulting 
dilapidated animals standing around in 
Spring. 
Sheep were not intended as a market 
for poor hay. A horse or ox may eat 
it and perhaps not lose much flesh. 
Sheep are nice-nosed, and the attempt 
to starve them until they are obliged to 
eat what they do not want always re¬ 
sults in more loss to the owner than the 
value of the feed he thinks he has saved. 
The actual food value of the common 
turnip is slight, yet as a side dish to go 
with dry hay and grain it is excellent 
to help the sheep forget that the ground 
is covered with snow, and prevent di¬ 
gestive troubles. As small a dose of 
turnips as half a bushel a day for 40 
sheep, chopped in a box with a spade, or 
better still, one of the improved root 
cutters, will put money into the sheep 
man’s pocket out of all proportion to 
the cost. A mixture of choice clover 
and Timothy hay pleases the sheep. Be¬ 
fore each feeding it is well to clear the 
mangers of all leavings. These orts 
will be handled by the cattle. 
While there is no animal that will 
give better returns for comfortable, and 
even luxurious quarters, it is not neces¬ 
sary that sheep buildings should be very 
expensive. Good results may be had in 
a battened shed, the doors of which may 
be closed in cold weather. A double 
lining about three feet high, made by 
boarding up the studding and stuffing 
with hay, will keep the sheep out of 
drafts while lying down. A dry ground 
floor, with the soiled straw raked off 
and the bedding renewed about once a 
week makes a footing good enough for 
any sheep. 
Whenever possible there should be a 
tub of running water so situated that 
the animals can take a swallow when¬ 
ever they want it. On most hilly farms 
there are springs that could be piped to 
the barn. This work will be paid for 
many times over in the comfort of the 
animals, and what is pleasanter to the 
man doing the Winter chores than the 
gurgle of running water in the tub, re¬ 
lieving him of the tough job of carry¬ 
ing water or driving the stock to the 
brook? 
Foot-and-Mouth Disease.— Let me ask 
some farmers whose cattle have the foot- 
and-mouth evil to bathe the sores with 
kerosene oil and on the legs above where 
sore, keep a roll of cotton rags saturated 
with the oil so it oozes out on the leg. 
Bathe the mouth several times daily, don’t 
be afraid to use the kerosene freely. If a 
little is swallowed all the better. Give 
salts in drink to cool the blood and let 
stock exercise in a dry place and keep feet 
dry from mud and water and report the 
result to your paper. I have had several 
cases in my herd where the ankle above 
the hoof got sore, the hoof loose and would 
drop off if not attended to, also the skin 
of mouth and tongue slough and leave the 
mouth raw, with high fever, and I have 
cured every one with above treatment. 
Nezpique, La. J. m. m. 
I 
The Choking Cow.—I t often happens 
w'hen the dairy gets into orchard that 
one or more of the cows get choked trying 
to swallow apples whole. When this oc¬ 
curs lose no time in getting the cow in 
stanchion: draw her head up and fasten 
not too high. Melt lard, one pint, take 
out tongue with the hand, put lard in long¬ 
necked bottle, pour down throat. She will 
struggle to throw out lard; her throat be¬ 
ing well oiled the obstruction is easily 
thrown out. A potato is the hardest to re¬ 
move on account of its rough skin. An¬ 
other plan is to take a piece of rubber 
hose some three feet long, about 1% inch 
in diameter; grease one end, shove this 
end down throat, hold tongue out, press 
this against the obstruction, force it down 
to the stomach. Always try lard first; I 
have never known a failure. c. w. k. 
Bedford, O. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick repiy and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
Horse Owners! Use 
GOMBAtriiT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
A Safe, Speedf, and PositWe Cat* 
The safest. Best BLISTER ever used. Takei 
the place of all Itnaments for mild or severe action 
Removes all Bunches or Blemishes from Horses 
and Cattle, SCPEBSEDES ALI. CAUTKBS 
O K FI KING. Impossible to produce scar or blemish 
Every bottle sold Is warranted to give satisfaction 
Price SI .50 per bottle. Sold by druggists, or sent 
by express, charges paid, with full directions fox 
Its use. Send for descriptive circulars. 
THE LAWRENCE-WIBLIAMS CO., Cleveland. O 
ifewtan’t Heave, Coagh, We 
temper and IndlmUoa Care, 
A veterinary apeoiflo tot wln^ 
throat and ■tomsoh tronblea. 
Stronjr recommenda. per 
can. Dealera, mail or Ex.paid 
Hewten Horae Remedy Co. 
< Y } Toledo, OUe, 
Grind Your Cobs 
and make your com go 
farther. The 
New Holland 
Cob and Feed 
will save your com, 
labor. Never chokes. Large 
capacity. Light draft. Sold on 
FREE TRIAL. Send itbackifnot 
better than others costing more. • CatalogPree. 
NEW HOLLAND MACHINE WORKS, BOXUS NEW HOLLAND, PA. 
CRE OF CORN 
and Its possibilities tinder the Silsge 
system—being the theme of 
; “A BOOK ON SILAGE" 
I By Prof. F. W. WOLL 
S of the University of \V isconHin. Revised and up-to-date, nest- 
I ) y bound into a Tolume of 234 pages. Itembracesfullinform- ' 
* atioa from planting to feeding the crop, and includes working 
i plans and speciiicatlous for building all siloa. Also embraces: ^ 
I—silage Crops. II—Silos, 
i Ill-Silage. IV-Feeding of Silage* 
I V—Comparison of Silage and other Feeds. 
I VI—The Silo in Modem Agricullnre, 
I And illustrations and completa plans for round and 
r;.*ctangular silos, dairy barns, tables of com¬ 
pounded rations, etc. Motled for lOo* 
coin or atompa. 
SILVER MFC. CO. 
Salem, Ohio. 
Do Yoa Feed 
ENSILAGE? 
If not, write 
as and we will 
tell you why 
you should. 
ROSS 
We will also 
tell you about 
Profit-Making 
Ross Ensilage 
Cutters. 
Address, 
ENSILAGE 
CUTTERS 
The E. W. Ross Co., Springfield. O. 
Our Illustrated Catalogue No. 45 is Free. 
Best 
Results 
in feeding for milk are 
obtained by adding some 
Buffalo 
Gluten 
Feed 
to balance the ration. 
Sample and booklet 
**Feed Your Stock for 
Best Results*** 
Sent free. Write to-day. 
Address Department T 
THE GLUCOSE SUGAR REFINING CO., 
The Rookery, Chicago, III. 
ictivv I UUI .4 V/IIUIOC 
, TIM Conwax— very timple, quick 
iltooperate. Bully V—Uteataud moat 
jl powerful V-Knife made. Sent on 
trial. Calf Dishorner and other 
^tuppliee. Send for catalog. 
Weetern orderi filled 
t from Chieafco. 
. _ 4k OKO. WIBSTCR 
ITbfCoavtx Chrlatlana, Pa. 
Cows barren-S years 
MADE TO BREED. 
Moore Brothers, Aibcny.N. y. 
VICTORY FEED MILL. 
Oldest and Best Grinding Mill 
Made. Will crush and grind 
corn and cob and alt kinds of 
nain, mixed or separate. 
Grinds faster, finer and with 
less power than other mills. 
Are built strong, well made of 
good material, and will last 
a lifetime. Small size adapt¬ 
ed for windand tread power. 
Made In four sizes for 1,4 ,8 
and 10 H. F. Free Catalogue. 
THOS. ROBERTS, 
Box 92. Springfield, O. 
THE CHAIN-HANGING 
Cattle Stanchion 
The most practical and humane Fastener ever In¬ 
vented. G Ives perfect freedom of the head. 1 llustrated 
Circular and Price free on application. Manufactured 
by O. H. ROBERTSON, Forestville, Conn. 
Stanchion 
DI mprovement over 
Wilder’S 
w^beingr anlmproTc^eni oiw 
Smith’s. Lightest, strongest, 
qalckesi, safes! swing ■UDehl<m 
mad«« Hwiteellatch and aatomatlo 
lock. Becomes stationary whs& 
open. Animal cannottarnitfn bask¬ 
ing ont. Madsof best seasoned hard 
'Wood. Pinsfbrfastening with every 
stanchion. Send for tMthnonlala. 
J.K. WILDER* SONS, 
You can add value to any cow with a 
National 
Hand Separator 
because it will save over 80 per cent, of the loss 
resulting from the old method of setting. It 
will separate warm or cold milk, light or 
heavy cream, and skim clean. We send the 
National and let It prove its worth right in 
your own home dairy. 
10 DAYS’ USE FREE. 
Costs nothing if you don’t buy —costs 
nothing If you do, for it pays its 
cost in what i t saves. Bend 
for catalogue. 
National Dairy Harhlno Co. 
Newark, N.J. 
DeLaImL 
CREJmSEPARATORS 
For twenty years the World’s Standard 
Send for free catalogue. 
The Oe Ltval Separator Co.. 74 Cortlandt St., N.Y- 
The EMPIRE I 
T be EiMy Ki nninc Kind. '' 
It 111 give aatltfsotioo, inske jou mors 
CD<««7 •nd iMt loDgor th»o snj other. Our 
\ book ihowf whj. Send for It. 
I Empire Cream Separator Co.. 
’ BLOOMFIELD, ff. J. 
CREAM EXTRACTOR 
This Is a genuine 
FREE 
offer made to introduce the Peoples 
Cream Extractor in every neighbor¬ 
hood. It is the best and simplest In 
the world. We ask that you show it to 
your neighbors who have cows. Send 
your name and the name of the nea^^• 
est freight office. Address 
PEOPLES SUPPLY CO,, 
Dept. 86, Kansas City, Mo. 
THE ARRAS 
Cream Extractor 
The leading Cream Extractor, 
because milk and water are not 
mixed. It will raise your cream 
in 3 to 5 hours. Always pure, 
sweet milk for house use and 
feed. The most convenient de¬ 
vice on earth for handling your 
milk Summer or Winter. Be¬ 
ware of imitations and infringe¬ 
ments, as our extractor is fully 
patented. Agents wanted. 
Arras Cream Separator Co., 
21,1901. BLUI'i’XON, OHIO. 
for 
free 
circu- 
AN INST/VNT»S F*A1N 
and file dehorning job is smoothly done, no,rSffl:% Send 
crushing or bruising if the 
KLEYSXONE 
Dehorning K.nlfe 
is used. Easy, sure and most speedy 
in operation. No evil results can fol¬ 
low. Cuts from four sides at once. En¬ 
dorsed by veterinarians. Guaranteed. 
T. PHILLIPS, POMEROY, PA. 
Dana's White Metallic Ear Label 
withyournameandconsecufiveDumben. AlwsysstayoK I 
easy to read. Best for sucking calves, cattle, sheeMM I 
hogs. Used as official mark by 40 recording assoclaaoM, 
also by thousands of the best farmers and breeders. - 
aoapleJTree. Agents wanted. Liberal terms. 
C. B. DANA. 74 RWa St,, W. Ubtmm, N, D. 
