604 
THE R. UR. .A. I. NEW-YORKER 
December 12, 
THE MOLTING OF FOWLS. 
For several years poultrymen have dis¬ 
cussed regulation of tbe molt of fowls by 
artificial means. Some have claimed good 
results from a system of starvation fol¬ 
lowed by heavy feeding, while others con¬ 
sider the plan detrimental in the long run. 
Prof. James E. Rice, of Cornell, lias made 
a careful study of this matter, the result 
being given in Bulletin 258. 
The baby chick when it comes from the 
shell has pin feathers for flights. In two 
or three days it develops pinfeathers which 
become the tail. The body down grows 
longer and develops feather shafts. In a 
few days these shafts burst open, allowing 
the feather to spread, the down often cling¬ 
ing to tlie top of the opened feather, giving 
the chick a ragged appearance. The first 
body feathers appear at the throat just 
above the crop, and from this point ex¬ 
tend down each side of crop and breast 
(see Fig. 454, showing a White Leghorn 
chick four weeks old). In order to learn 
whether these chick feathers grew with the 
bird or were molted and replaced by others, 
a number of chicks were inspected daily for 
several weeks. The first feathers were 
stained red and those that replaced them 
black. At the age of two months all red 
feathers in tail and wings had been shed, 
and at 13 weeks all black feathers had been 
replaced by white ones, this sequence of 
molt corresponding closely with that of 
young wild birds. No molt was observed 
from 13 weeks of age until maturity, about 
six months, when they shed all feathers 
and got their full plumage. The pullets 
underwent this molt whether they laid or 
not. After beginning to lay they shed no 
more feathers so long as production con¬ 
tinued. When they ceased laying, many 
began to molt. In some cases the molt 
was complete, extending to wings and tail. 
In others it took in only the body feathers, 
and in others only a few feathers were 
shed on different parts of < he body. 
In former experiments pullets beginning 
to lay before September, shod their entire 
plumage in the Fall. One pullet laid 30 
eggs and molted completely; another laid 
one egg and molted as completely. Others 
which began to lay, later did not molt until 
1 he next Fall. From these experiments it 
would seem that there is no general rule 
regarding this first-year molting, it being 
an individual matter. 
The experiment for forcing the molt was 
begun August 11, 1000; 232 White Leg¬ 
horns were put in six pens, the ages run¬ 
ning from one to three years. In pens 5 
and 8 there were 40 and 38 three-year-old 
liens; in pens 10 and 22, 40 and 42 two- 
year-olds ; and pens 24 and 25 had 34 
yearlings each. The experiment was con¬ 
tinued 455 days. Three of these flocks 
(one each of the different ages) were 
starved for a period of four weeks, and 
three were fed as usual. The starvation 
period lasted four weeks. In the first week 
the amount of food was reduced to one- 
half the usual quantity; In the following 
two weeks about one-third rations were fed, 
gradually increasing in tlie fourth week 
until tlie starved flocks were given all they 
would eat. 
Each flock received the same kind of 
mixed grains, which were thrown iiito the 
litter every morning and evening. Tills 
mixture was varied from time to time 
throughout tlie experiment for periods be¬ 
ginning with dates as follows : 
August 11, 1906—cracked corn, 10 pounds; 
wheat, 6 pounds; oats, 8 pounds. 
January 12, 1007—corn, 3 pounds; wheat, 
3 pounds; oats, 4 pounds; buckwheat, 2 
pounds. 
March 30, 1007—cracked corn. 3 pounds; 
wheat, 3 pounds; oats, 2 pounds. 
June 20, 1007—corn, 15 pounds; wheat, 
0 pounds; oats, 12 pounds. 
August 24, 1007—cracked corn, 10 
pounds; wheat, 6 pounds; oats, 4 pounds. 
The ground grains and meat mixture was 
liopper-fed to flocks 10 and 22, the hpppers 
being open at all times. The same ground 
grain and meat mixture was fed to flocks 
5 and 8 and 24 and 25 in a moist condition, 
water and occasionally vegetable soup being 
used to moisten it. This ground grain and 
meat mixture was varied from time to time 
for periods beginning with dates as follows; 
August 11, 100G—cornmeal, 4 pounds; 
wheat bran, 2 pounds; wheat middlings, 3 
pounds; oil meal, 1 pound; Alfalfa meal, 
1 pound; meat scraps, 1 pound. 
January 25, 1007—cornmeal, 4 pounds; 
wheat bran, 2 pounds; wheat middlings, 3 
pounds; oil meal, 1 pound; Alfalfa meal, 
1 pound; meat scraps, 2 pounds. 
February 15, 1907—cornmeal, 8 pounds; 
wheat bran, 2 pounds; wheat middlings. 2 
pounds; oil meal, 1 pound; Alfalfa meal, 
1 pound; meat scraps, 2 pounds. 
March 23, 1007—cornmeal, 5 pounds; 
wheat bran, 3 pounds; wheat middlings, 4 
pounds; oil meal, 1 pound; Alfalfa meal, 
y 3 pound ; meat scraps, 4 pounds. 
Mangel beets were fed in limited quantity 
during the Winter months, as was also 
green cut bone. Grit and oyster shells were 
always accessible. 
About half the fowls in all flocks were 
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beginning to molt when 1 lie experiment was 
begun. By tbe last of October 6.3% of 
the starved hens and 5.0% of the fed bens 
were refeathered. By November 25, 34.4% 
of the starved and G2.2% of the fed hens 
were completely renewed, and as bite as 
December 30 there remained 16.6% of the 
starved and 15.5% of tlie fed bens which 
did not have their new coats. From Au¬ 
gust 25 to October 23 the starved flocks 
showed a larger percentage of Individuals 
moiling. After that there was more molt¬ 
ing among the fed liens, though both flocks 
completed tlie molt at tlie same time. The 
molt of the starved flocks was more uni¬ 
form and the liens in hotter condition at 
the end of the molt than the fed hens, hut 
FEATHER TRACTS IN WHITE LEG¬ 
HORN CHICK. Fig. 454. 
this 'may have been because tbe fed hens 
laid more eggs during the lime. The aver¬ 
age time for completing the molt in tlie 
six flocks was 95 days. The average time 
for the three-year-okls was 104 days, for 
tlie two-year-olds 101 days, and for the 
yearlings 82 days. The starved one-year- 
olds average to molt more quickly h.v 33 
days, than did the fed; the starved tivo- 
year-olds were little affected; while the 
starved three-year-olds averaged 20 days 
longer in molting than did the fed birds. 
The average lime required to complete the 
molt of the three starved flocks was 93.8 
days; of the three fed flocks, 07.4 days. 
Ajr this would indicate that the moiling 
process continues much longer than is usu¬ 
ally supposed, and that there is consider¬ 
able variation in the time of beginning the 
molt between different individuals, and be¬ 
tween flocks of different ages, also a wide 
variation in the length of time it requires 
individuals io complete the molt. One is 
further impressed with the fact, that, so 
far as this experiment is concerned, the 
method of feeding did not materially alter 
the normal conditions of molting, except 
with the one-year-old fowls. From this ex¬ 
periment it would seem that with White 
COMPLETELY PLUMED WITH CHICK 
FEATHERS AT 54 DAYS. Fig. 455. 
Leghorns from one to three years old it: 
does not pay to force the molt by starva¬ 
tion methods, and that it is good policy 
to encourage lions, by good care and feed¬ 
ing, to lay during late Summer and Fall 
rather than resort to unusual means to stop 
laying in order 1o induce au early molt in 
an effort to increase production later. In 
other words, it appears wise, when hens 
want to lay, to let thorn lay. 
SYMPTOMS OF POLL EVIL. 
I have a colt past three years okl that 
gives mo some anxiety. It was brought 
home a few weeks ago after being handled 
for about three months by a neighbor. We 
noticed it did not seem very lively, stood 
about a good deal, etc. On examination 
we found she had larnpas badly. She 
was running on grass. I gave her three 
or four ears of corn daily, and she is 
now better and improving in flesh, in very 
fair order. At the time a colored man 
who lias had a good deal of experience, 
said she was threatened with poll evil, and 
pointed to enlargement just hack of ear. 
After careful examination and comparison 
with other horses and colts, I find this 
slight prominence is much more noticeable 
in some than in others, in her case rather 
more, both sides alike. I have used a 
liniment advisedly by Dr. Law; she allows 
me to rub this in without flinching. I 
can notice no heat: nor tenderness, nor 
any change of size such as swelling. Is 
there any unfailing sign, which in the ab¬ 
sence of more pronounced symptoms, would 
indicate the probability of poll evil? She 
did for a time carry her head in a droop¬ 
ing way, with the nose forward, hut this .Is 
not as marked as it was. How long would it 
be a matter of uncertainty or suspicion as to 
presence of disease? t. f. 
Virginia. 
From your description it seems highly 
improbable that the colt has or is getting 
“poll evil.” Were that trouble pending or 
present the part Involved would be very 
painful to the touch, and would be hot as 
well as tender, as the disease, occasioned by 
a blow or bruise, is characterized by a 
formation of pus constituting a deep-seated 
abscess. The swelling gradually increases 
in size and becomes more soft as tbe ab¬ 
scess fills up and tbe pus approaches tbe 
surface. Under the circumstances we would 
advise letting tlie part alone; or simply 
apply a little lard or vaseline daily if the 
skin lias become irritated by use of the 
liniment. “Lampas” is not a disease, but 
merely a swelling of the hard palate back of 
the upper incisor teeth, and this is a symp¬ 
tom of irritation of the gums and buccal 
membrane of tlie mouth from tooth cutting, 
which is going on at tlie age mentioned. 
Indeed, tlie colt now is getting 16 large 
toolli and shedding 12 of them, so it is not 
strange that irritation is present. It was 
right to allow the ears of corn to be 
chewed on as a teething baby does on a 
rubber ring. It is quite likely too that 
worms are bothering tlie colt, and we would 
advise mixing in her feed night and morn¬ 
ing for 10 days a dessertspoonful of a 
mixture of equal parts salt, dried sulphate 
of Iron, powdered mix vomica and flowers 
of sulphur. If tlie colt does not take to 
this mixture add one part of fenugreek and 
then correspondingly increase the dose. Tlie 
feed should consist of oats and bran, along 
with the best of hay, and a few carrots 
or oilier roots also would prove beneficial. 
If the gums continue inflamed swab the 
mouth twice daily with a lotion composed 
of half an ounce of powdered borax and 
two ounces of strained lioney shaken up 
in a pint of cold water. A . s. a. 
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“MAIL ORDER” AND “JOBBING” 
CREAM SEPARATORS 
I—PC—— | 
We have all heard a lot about the “ CHEAPNESS ” of the 
“MAIL ORDER” cream separator, but not so much about that 
of: the “JOBBING” cream separator and most of us have lost 
sight of the fact that there naturally isn’t much difference 
between them. THE SAME “CHEAP” CONSIDERATIONS 
NECESSARILY CONTROL IN EACH CASE. 
The “MAIL ORDER ’ cream separator has got to he MADE 
“ cheap ’’—because the “mail order” house has got to buy 
“cheap” in order to sell “ cheap,” and it may be depended 
upon to buy as cheap as it can. 
The “JOBBING ” cream separator—the one which the big 
implement concern buys and jobs to its dealers—lias got to be 
MADE “cheap”—because the implement concern has got to 
buy “ cheap ” in order to re-sell, and it may naturally be 
depended upon to buy as cheap as it can 
DE LA VAL cream separa tors are not sold to “MAI L ORDER” 
concerns—because they cost more to MAKE than “mail order” 
cream separators cost to SELL. DE LA VAL cream separators 
are not sold to “JOBBING” houses—because the jobbers cannot 
buy them “ CHEAP” enough and because there is no room for 
any “ jobbing” profit in them. 
The BU YER-FOR-USE of a cream separator, like the buyer 
of any thing else, GETS WHAT HE PAYS FOR. If he wants 
‘"CHEAPNESS” in first cost he stands to get it in a “MAIL 
ORDER”or a “JOBBING” separator. If he wants QUALITY 
and FULL VALUE for his money he is absolutely certain of 
getting it in a DE LAVAL cream separator. 
You pay your money and you take your choice. 
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165-167 BROADWAY, 
NEW YORK. 
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