THE RURAL IME W-YORK liR 
826 
1912. 
The Henyard. 
THE EGG-LAYING CONTEST. 
The thirty-first week of the contest 
shows a small decline in egg production 
from the previous weeks, the loss being 
23; 2,151 eggs were laid, as against 
2,171 the week before. But the egg out¬ 
put this week was 150 more than were 
laid during the thirty-first week last year. 
This week the White Leghorns are re¬ 
sponsible for the entire loss, as they laid 
27 less than last week. But White Leg¬ 
horns make all the high scores again this 
week. Two pens tie for the highest score 
—31. They are R. A. Marrison’s pen 
and W. L. Sleegur’s. Two pens of White 
Leghorns also tie for second place with 
scores of 30 each. They are II. E. Seav- 
er’s pen and F. G. Yost’s pen of mixed 
hens and pullets. Yost’s pen were very 
late in starting to lay, but have been do¬ 
ing good work lately, and have a total 
now of 433 to their credit. Five pens of 
White Leghorns laid 29 each. They are 
Orchard Hill Poultry Farm’s pen. Bur¬ 
ton E. Moore’s pen, P. G. Platt’s pen, 
Tom Barron’s pen from England, and F. 
A. Jones pen. Outside of White Leg¬ 
horns the only pen to lay 29 was the 
S. C. R. I. Reds from Colonial Farm. 
Five pens of White Leghorns laid 28 
each and three pens 27 each. The high¬ 
est number laid by any of the other 
breeds was 27, four pens laying that 
number. The total number of eggs laid 
is 44.9S3. 
“Tom” Barron’s pen (it seems to us 
Americans sort of discourteous to write his 
name that way, but that is the way he 
has it printed on his catalogues, and the 
way he signs his letters), of White Leg¬ 
horns have laid 739 eggs. They are now 
123 ahead of any other pen of any breed, 
counting out Edward Cam’s. It seems to 
me that Editor Robinson of Farm Poul¬ 
try ought to be able now to see the fal¬ 
lacy of his dictum, that it was the “con¬ 
ditioning” of the English birds, the get¬ 
ting them ready to make a “Hying start” 
at a certain time, as “no other pens were 
ready,” that gave the English birds their 
advantage. And his further statement 
that the “laying blood” in these English 
birds “is no better than that in numerous 
other good laying strains,” is similarly 
refuted by the facts. It seems to me the 
record made by these English White Leg¬ 
horns has fully justified my advice to 
American breeders to get this blood into 
their flocks. 
Edward Cam’s White Leghorns still 
hold second place in the total score, they 
have laid 660. Geo. II. Schmitz’s Buff 
Leghorns which have held third place all 
along, lose it this week and go down to 
fifth place. Mr. Cam’s White Wyan- 
dottes are third with a score of 620, and 
0. A. Foster’s White Leghorns fourth 
with 616 to their credit. Geo. H. 
Schmitzs’ Buff Leghorns have laid 612. 
No other pens have reached 600. The 
highest scoring pen of Barred Rocks is 
J. W. Miller’s, score 496; J. W. Tilley’s 
White P. Rocks, score 526; Beulah 
Farm’s White Wyandottes, 568; Mrs. 
II. F. Haynes’ pen of the same breed 
(the birds that rode on horseback 
through the Idaho mountains), score 
540. The best pen of Buff Wyandottes, 
score 396; of S. C. R. I. Reds, 554; of 
R. C. R. I. Reds, 527; of Buff Orping¬ 
tons. 426; of White Orpingtons, 484; of 
Black Orpingtons, 348; of Black Minor- 
cas, 402; of Blue Andalusians, 389; An- 
conas, 322; Buttercups, ISO. Compare 
these figures with Mr. Barron’s 739. 
GEO. A. COSGROVE. 
Duck and Chicken Questions. 
1. What is the best thing to feed 
chicks the first week? 2. I have good 
luck with chicks until they get three 
weeks old, and then get the sore head. 
Can you tell me what to do? I have a 
good place to keep them. Isn’t there some 
salve that I can use? 3. I raise ducks 
until they get three weeks old and then 
die. Wlmt should I feed them ? w. k. p. 
Florida. 
1. We feed our chicks for the first week 
and longer upon chick feed composed of 
one part pinhead oatmeal, two parts 
finely cracked corn, and three parts 
cracked wheat: the one, two, three mix¬ 
ture. In addition to this we feed a soft 
mash, twice daily, composed of equal 
p;irts of cornmeal, wheat bran, wheat 
middlings, and sifted beef scrap. We 
sometimes use a cornmeal johnny-cake, 
made with sour milk and soda, for the 
first week or two, and like it better than 
tile mash, but it is, of course, much more 
troublesome to make. 
-• Sore head, or chicken-pox, is a con¬ 
tagious disease, and any chickens main- 
nesting it should be promptly removed 
rom the flock. They may be treated by 
applying sulphur ointment or a five per 
cent carbolic acid ointment once or twice 
J), ] )Ut tllIS local treatment should be 
nipplemeiitod by cleaning up and disin- 
“ \ u .g thelr quarters, and cleansing their 
, vo ** els 1,11,1 feed dishes each 
uay " ith boiling water. 
nrn' ducks should have a large 
"i-,.,,, 1 * !°ft' ot their food in the form of 
monv„fi U ?’ Heay y losses are frequently 
.. i 1 amateurs in the attempt to 
' ' .-T® ll l >OI i the same ground grain 
atmiis that are suitable for chickens. A 
nos^ g rT lUg ration f or ducks is eom- 
, ^‘., 0 ' P arts wheat bran, one part 
about o ll< t lllss ’ oue I )ai 't cornmeal, and 
about five per cent of sifted beef scrap 
with an equal amount of fine grit. Green 
stuff, such as cut clover or Alfalfa, should 
be added to this, beginning with a small 
amount at first and increasing until the 
ration is composed of about one-half 
green stuff by the time the ducks are 
from three to four weeks old. Finely 
cracked charcoal is also a valuable addi¬ 
tion to the feed. m. b. d. 
DRY MASH HOPPER. 
Would you give diagram and descrip¬ 
tion of an inside dry-mash hopper with 
a capacity sufficient for 100 fowls one 
week, which will not clog, and which 
will eliminate wasting? w. c. H. 
New Jersey. 
The accompanying diagram shows an 
end view, or cross section, of a dry feed 
hopper designed by the writer to pre¬ 
vent the waste of food. The design and 
dimensions are the result of considerable 
experimenting, and the hoppers are very 
satisfactory, both for young chickens and 
older fowls. The one shown will hold a 
bushel of feed and is used in a colony 
house for growing chicks; for older fowls 
it should be several times as large, keep¬ 
ing the dimensions of the feed opening 
the same, however. Oue used in my hen¬ 
house holds two hundred pounds of feed 
and is tilled at irregular intervals as it 
becomes empty. They may be built of 
any stuff at hand, though mine are made 
of one-inch pine boards for ends, and half¬ 
inch matched stuff for the rest. m. b. d. 
Crowing Hen. 
March 5, 1912, a hen was given 13 
eggs, White Wyandotte; due to very cold 
weather but two hatched. The one was 
delicate and at nine months was only 
half grown, March, 1913, we saw it lay 
its first egg; at the same its head began 
to develop like that of a rooster, has 
feet like a hen, crows, scratches and calls 
the hens when fed. It has laid 15 eggs; 
is a curiosity among poultry people. 
Richlandtown, Pa. s. t. c. 
There is nothing remarkable about this 
hen, though it is, of course, out of the 
ordinary. Both sexes of all animals 
possess all the characters of the race, 
though some of them are fully developed 
in one sex while rudimentary in the 
other; for instance, women have rudi¬ 
mentary beards, well developed in some; 
while men possess rudimentary nipples 
and breasts, capable in some instances of 
secreting milk. This hen has simply de¬ 
veloped some of the sex characters of the 
male, and is to that extent a freak. She 
is still a hen, however. 11 . b. d. 
Easy Hen-keeping. 
Mapes the hen man certainly does 
make it sound easy, and his articles are 
fine reading. He always stops at just 
the right places. He does stop, though, 
and that is just the point. So far as I 
have seen he has not said oue thing that 
I would not take for gilt-edged truth, but 
there is so much left unsaid. If his idea 
is to get inexperienced people to follow 
his methods it seems to me to be very 
poor advertising, for he must know that 
he is inviting failure to the greater part 
of his following by not telling the whole 
truth. 
He is right in saying that hens can be 
cared for with only a few minutes of time 
each day. However, the care of hens is 
such a small part of the poultry business. 
V hile there are farms where no chicks 
are raised and pullets are bought each 
Fall to replace the hens that are sold to 
marked where Mapes’ methods could well 
be used with very little work, there is a 
very close margin of profits handling 
poultry in this way, and a considerable 
amount of capital to be invested. The 
Hope Farm man says that the raising of 
clucks is a different story, and he is 
right. It is a very different story and a 
very long one, and it makes the few min¬ 
utes a day part of Mapes’ plan sound 
like a joke. Suppose 400 pullets are 
wanted at the close of the season. Figure 
that 50 per cent of the chicks will be 
cockerels; this means that it will be nec¬ 
essary to raise 800 chicks. There is 
likely to be a loss of 25 per cent, so it is 
wise to hatch 1,000. If eggs are hatch¬ 
ing at about 60 per cent it will be neces¬ 
sary to have an incubator capacity of at 
least 1,400 eggs. From various experi¬ 
mental bulletins and other reports I do 
not think that these figures are exag¬ 
gerated. If the number of pullets desired 
is greater the loss will increase to a 
greater per cent. 
Incubators and brooders to handle all 
the chicks at one hatch would be a big 
item, and most farms find it advisable to 
hatch three or even four times. This 
means chicks of various ages, and to get 
the best results they should be fed vari¬ 
ous feeds at various times. During part 
of the season baby chick feeding comes 
nearly every half hour from six in the 
morning until six at night with us. In 
fact, with hatches coming off in January 
and February for Fall sales, and hatches 
during March, April and May for Win- 
. ter layers, and hatches in June and July 
for broilers, there is very little of the 
year when we can enjoy the few minutes 
a day part of it. 
IIAYX S WORTII BALDREY. 
Moe’sSanitaryPoultryDrinkingFountain 
Chicken Feather Pillows. — I see a 
reader asked about chicken feathers for 
pillows. I do not use any other kind, 
and almost everyone I know uses them, 
but those that have hard quills in them 
must be stripped, which is a very easy 
thing to do. When beds or pillows get 
hard or matted they should be put out 
of doors, where the sun and wind can 
get at them, and they will get fluffy and 
light. 1 . c. H. 
Pennsylvania. 
PatnUd 
Tift Mart Popular Fomlain 
on the Market. 
FttlS FROM THE. TOP. 
Dead air space between cover 
and reservoir keeps water cool 
in summer and from freezing in 
winter. If not at your dealers, 
write U9 to send you one on ap¬ 
proval and if you find it is the fountain you want, write ua for a special 
price on your requirements^ Manufactured in three sizes; 1, 2 and 4 
• gallon. A hook on each fountain for banging up when desirafc 
^_ OTIS A MOE. 1710 OtU Bulldlmt. CHICAGO. 11-1- 
O To Kill Lice and Mites D 
A R on fowls and in the houses, use 
PRATTS POWDERED LICE KILLER U 
25c and 50c per package 
and PRATTS LIQUID LICE KILLER A 
35c quart; $1 gallon 
T Each the best of its kind 
“Your money back if it fails” I 
—_ 160-page poultry book 10c by mail. 
At all dealers, or 
S PRATT FOOD COMPANY C 
Philadelphia Chicago 
Books on Farming. 
Will you give me a list of what I 
ought to be reading in the way of books 
in order to post me in the care of about 
200 chickens, two Ayrshire cows, several 
pigs, some Alfalfa, corn and oats? 
Wellsville, N. Y. T. H. s. 
Your request suggests that you expect 
to engage in general farming. If you 
will establish and maintain a reading 
habit your work will certainly be far 
more pleasurable, and should be more 
profitable, for reading is a short method 
of acquiring the benefit of the experience 
of others. However much it may be 
looked down upon by some who scoff at 
“book farming,” reading is essential to 
the highest success. Work which does 
not develop the mind while occupying 
the hand is one sided, and of all occu¬ 
pations, that of farming gives the widest 
scope for all round development of mind 
and muscle. Without knowing your 
present mental and practical equipment, 
it would be impossible to say just what 
books you most need, but you will find 
a list of “Books Worth Buying” printed 
from time to time in the advertising 
columns of this paper. These are all 
standard works of the highest class and 
you can select such as interest you. If 
you have had a little elementary train¬ 
ing in the natural sciences, and the 
farmer who has not is to be pitied, and 
wish to read oue of the most delightful 
wonder stories ever written, get “The 
Soil” by King. Apply also to your State 
experiment stations and to the Agricul¬ 
tural Department at Washington, D. C., 
for bulletins upon subjects in which you 
are interested; you are helping to pay 
for these publications, make use of them. 
Lastly subscribe for one or two good 
agricultural journals. they are the 
working library of the farmer; then, 
talk with your neighbors, all useful 
knowledge hasn’t been put into the books 
yet, and much that Is there needs the 
test of local experience to make it val¬ 
uable. m. b. D. 
DADV W. Young’s strain 
DUD I UllltmO Single Comb White Leg¬ 
horns exclusively. All on free farm range. A hatch 
every Wednesday. Chicks, balance of June and 
July, $8 per 100. A Fireless Brooder and SO chicks 
for $6—a bargain. My book, "Profits in Poultry Keening 
Solved." shows where the money is. Price. II, or 
given free with all 100 chick orders. Circular frea. 
EDGAR BRIGGS, North Boulevard, Pleasant Valley, N. Y. 
Rose Comb Reds and MAMMOTH 
BRONZE TURKEYS— (Crescent Strain) 
Eggs from all matings half-price during remainder 
of the season. Also high-class breeding birds at 
half-price during next 60 days- Mating list free. 
D. R. HDNE, CRESCENT HILL C ARM, SHARON SPRINGS. N. Y. 
Can Still Supply DAY-OLD CHICKS & DUCKS 
LAKEHIT I FARM BtuE RlBB0N o * 0 
LrtRLniLL r fYIXlVl S|LVER cup VVINNERS 
Account change in business all poultry and farm stock for 
sale, including implements, White Leghorn Hens, Chick*, 
Pekin Ducks, W. H. Turkeys, Pigeons, Horses, Cowe. 103 
Acres to rent. 12-room honse, 2 baths, steam heat. 
LAKEHILL FARM. PLEAS ANTVILLE. N. Y. 
—7c. Shipped C. O. D. S- C. W. Leg¬ 
horns. Will return money for dead 
ones. Pamphlet on roup Free 
_ B-73. C. M. LAUVER, R ichfield, Pa. 
R. I. Reds, Houdans, Indian Runner Ducks 
High-class stock for UTILITY, SHOW or EX¬ 
PORT. Eggs for hatching. Mating list on requeat. 
SINCLAIR SMITH. 602 Fifth St.. Brookl yn. N. Y. 
Austin’s 200-Egg Strain 
high record stock. Old and young stock for sale. 
AUSTIN POULTRY FARM, Box 17, Cen tre Harbor, N. H. 
Ra hv FV»irlr« — S. 6. Leghorns, Barred 
Da °y '-HICKS KoekSi K. C. Reds. Strong. 
CHICKS 
Frsv* Golden Barred and Partridge Rocks. 
* Eniden Geese, Crested White Buff 
Orpington and Pure White Runner Ducks. 
J. H. LEWIS, K. E. D. 2, CADIZ. OHIO 
MAPLE COVE POULTRY YARDS 
R Nn OA Athene Pa Breeders for 32 years of pure- 
n. no. Z4, AinenS, ra. b re( i poultry of high quality. 
Chicks$8.50 per Hundred 
Purebred S. C. White Leghorns. Range yearling 
breeders. Big strong chicks that will please. 
VANCREST POULTRY FARM. Salt Point. Dutchess Co.. N. Y. 
pnill TP YMFM~Send 2c stamp for Illustrated 
r 1 11 1 Catalog describing 35 varieties. 
EAST DONEGAL POULTRY YARDS -:- MARIETTA, PA. 
r »I BARRON'S STRAIN OF HEAVY 
LAYING WHITE LEGHORNS —Choice 
pullets and cockerels, eight and twelve weeks old 
at reasonable prices. JAMES G. RUGH, Emienton, Pa. 
PO I? QAI F—100 S. C. White Leghorn 
■ •* Yearling Hens. 200 S. C. 
Buff Leghorn Yearling Hens. Selfection out of 900 
all high-class birds 1,000 March and April hatched, 
ranch raised. S. C. White Leghorn Pullets. 300 
Young Cockerels. Tom Barrens strain at reason¬ 
able prices, FAIR VIEW POULTRY FARM, Mayville, N. Y. 
THE FARMER’S FAVORITE WINTER 
• LAYERS —Kellerstrass White Orpingtons. Eggs 
and chicks at reduced prices during June and July- 
W. K. STEVENS, Culver Road, Lyons, N. Y. 
Baby Chicks 82c. Each 
from Single Comb White Leghorns. All breeders 
are on free range and from selected stock. Prompt 
delivery. A hatch every week. Safe arrival guar¬ 
anteed. Circular free. 
CHAS. R. STONE 
Baby Chicken Farm, Staatsburg-on-Hudson, N. Y- 
Fits Any' 
Pump and 
Makes It Hump 
fe 
7r 
Thirsty Cattle 
should have plenty of fresh, cool water these hot days. Let 
The Fuller & Johnson Farm Pump Engine 
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always ready to supply at once. 
270 to 2,450 Gallons of Water Per Hour! 
This remarkable engine is safe— 
A easy to operate—economical—durable 
^ —absolutely weather-proof—no belts, 
braces, or special platforms needed. 
Comes ready to run. Will also operate 
grindstone, washing mnehine, separa¬ 
tor. eto. That they are now used daily 
All Over the World 
is the real evidence of their success. 
We want to tell you all about this re¬ 
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what it will do for you — ?nd the ex¬ 
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buy it, so 
Write Today for Catalog; No. 17-Get the New Low Price 
(379) 
FULLER & JOHNSON MFG. CO. 
6 Rowley Street Madison, Wisconsin 
NO MORE 
HEN LICE 
Avenarius Carbolineum exterminates lice, mites, fleas and other 
insect pests on poultry.*, One application lasts 12 months or more. 
Prevents scaly leg, keeps the skin in good condition and makes hens 
lay better by removing irritating and blood sucking vermin. Poultry 
houses painted with Avenarius Carbolineum are absolutely sanitary and vermin free, 
i hey last longer. Avenarius Carbolineum can be applied as a spray or paint. 
Always keep a supply on hand. Be sure and get the genuine. Ask for AVENARIUS. 
If your dealer hasn’t it, write for Bulletin 33, giving full directions and prices, 
CARBOLINEUM WOOD PRESERVING CO., lsi Franklin St., New York City* 
