THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
117 
11(15. 
The Henyard. 
Fat Hens and Egg*. 
1 HAVE been slowly culling out a large 
flock of White Leghorn yearling hens, 
using some of the methods common to 
poultrvmen, viz: condition of comb, 
,. a rly molt, width between pelvic bones, 
, ;c. ‘ I kill and pick all these fowls my¬ 
self. and dress many of them. I find 
many very plump, with a heavy lining of 
fat in the abdomen. Is not this plump¬ 
ness and heavy deposit of fat in the 
abdominal cavity a good sign in itself of 
a very poor or non-layer, an indication 
that the food is being turned into fat in¬ 
stead of eggs? There is an old proverb 
that “Fat hens lay no eggs,” which seems 
to apply here. I have been feeding the 
regulation Cornell laying ration. 
New York. c. H. c. 
C. II. C. hits the nail on the head ex¬ 
actly. It is because no yolks are being 
developed, and that the only use for the 
fat-forming part of her ration—after 
sufficient is used for heat and energy—is 
to store it up for future supply, and as a 
protection against cold. A yolk is more 
than half pure fat, and when a i.an is 
turning out one every day she usually, 
or frequently, does not have fat formers 
enough in her ration, and so uses the 
stored-up fat in her system and becomes 
thin in flesh, and that is where the 
proverb starts from, “Fat hens lay no 
eggs.” The farmer’s wife, in the olden 
time, after some of her hens had been 
laying splendidly for a while, caught 
some of them on the roost at night and 
found the good layers thin in flesh and 
the poor layers fat. She simply 
mistook the effect for the cause. One of 
the difficult things to do is to prevent 
this laying on of fat after the molt, and 
to start the ovaries developing yolks. 
We have to fight nature herself, for na¬ 
ture wants this fat as a protection 
against the increasing cold, and vegetable 
and animal nature alike, cease the pro¬ 
cess of procreation at the coming of Win¬ 
ter. Here is a place where some of the 
brains at work at our poultry experiment 
stations, would have a fine field for work, 
in endeavoring to find out what combina¬ 
tion of rations will tend to overcome na¬ 
tural tendencies, and start the ovaries 
developing yolks. 
Some hens have the procreative in¬ 
stinct, habit, faculty—no matter how we 
phrase it, so strongly developed that they 
continue laying clear through the molt, or 
recover quickly from it, and start right 
on laying again ; but unfortunately, most 
hens do not. There is still something to 
be learned in the poultry business. 
GEO. A. COSGKOVE. 
Chicks With Rattling in Throat. 
C AN you give a reliable remedy for 
chickens having a cold? The symp- 
_ toms are a rattling in the throat, 
others have swollen eyes. Also how to 
protect the flock in which such birds are 
found. N. o. J. 
Berrien Co., Mich. 
The first thing to do when some mem¬ 
bers of a flock show signs of colds is 
to look for the cause and, if possible, re¬ 
move it. This may involve stopping up 
cracks or even removing the flock to more 
suitable quarters. As medicinal treat¬ 
ment, the administration of a few drops 
of kerosene to each fowl, squirting from 
a long nozzled oil can one or two drops 
into each nostril and the cleft of the 
mouth, is in high favor with many poul¬ 
try keepers. The addition of a teaspoon¬ 
ful of permanganate of potash crystals to 
each quart of the drinking water in an 
earthenware or wooden vessel is also 
“highly recommended.” M. B. D. 
Hen Questions. 
I HAVE a mixed flock; feeding poul¬ 
try rations similar to Maine formula, 
except that I feed corn, wheat and 
uats together, feeding most of the grain 
in morning. The water the hens get is 
from well at house. We consider this 
water has too much sulphur in it to 
drink, carry our own drinking and cook¬ 
ing water from spring. Mixed breeds 
seem all right, but the Langshans—the 
Whites are worse than the Blacks—have 
the feathers under the vent very dirty. 
Most of droppings—not all—are as they 
should he in color. The hens do not get 
as much green feed, when snow is on the 
ground, as they should, but feathers are 
dirty when they have a good chance to 
get all the green grass they need; in 
fact this trouble begins just about the 
time pullets begin to lay. Chickens are 
active, and lay well; maybe they lay 
too well for December. If all my White 
Langshans are laying as well as some I 
have chosen for breeders thy are laying 
<10% or better. Can you tell me the 
cause for this trouble, and how to rem¬ 
edy it? Is the trouble serious? Would 
it be caused by the water? Is this the 
case with Langshans and not with other 
breeds? Is the Maine Station ration too 
rich for White Langshans Would the 
Cornell ration be all right, if I substi¬ 
tuted corn for buckwheat, or is the Corn- 
til ration best for Leghorns only? Is it 
possible that the White Langshans have 
not as much vitality as other breeds? I 
get quite a few soft-shelled eggs. 
Pennsylvania. H. K. B. 
A moderate amount of soiling of the 
fluff does not indicate any serious trou¬ 
ble in fowls but is probably due to a 
little catarrhal inflammation of the vent. 
Improper food of any kind, particularly 
meat products that had spoiled, or too 
much green food might cause a looseness 
of the bowels that would soil the 
fluff. The different varieties of fowls 
do not need different feeds and the 
Maine Station or Cornell rations are 
adapted to Leghorns and Langshans 
alike. The heavier fowls, being less act¬ 
ive, are more apt to get over fat if an 
excess of corn or buckwheat is fed and 
a little more care in this regard needs to 
be exercised. It is not uncommon to 
find soft shelled eggs occasionally when 
pullets begin to lay and if they have 
plenty of crushed oyster shells or lime 
in some other form the trouble usually 
disappears. There is no difference, that 
I am aware of, in the vitality of Lang¬ 
shans and Leghorns, as breeds. The vi¬ 
tality of cither variety may be reduced by 
improper care or breeding. M. b. d. 
Picking Ducks. 
I S there any particular way to pick and 
dress ducks? With us the feathers 
and soft down fly everywhere. We 
would like, if possible, to overcome this, 
and make the work as easy as it is with 
hens. M. J. S. 
Denver, Colo. 
I know of no way to prevent the fly¬ 
ing of down if the ducks are picked dry. 
If a large number are to be picked there 
should be a room especially for such 
work, and the absence of drafts will pre¬ 
vent the flying of down to a degree. Of 
course scalding will prevent it, and for 
home use would not be objectionable, but 
in many markets dry-picked ducks are 
demanded. w. H. H. 
Coarse Beef Scrap for Poulrty. 
A CCORDING to your reprint of feed¬ 
ing rations at Storrs, Conn., I see 
you mention coarse beef scrap in the 
scratch feed. I understand the experi¬ 
ment station has omitted it for the rea¬ 
son that so much of it goes to waste, and 
the chickens get it in the dry mash any¬ 
way. o. c. F. 
Athenia, N. J. 
Our understanding is that the beef 
scrap is sifted. The finer parts go into 
the dry mash and the coarser parts are 
mixed with the grain. This takes care of 
it all, and gives a better dry mash than 
if all the coarse parts were mixed in. 
Winter Molt. 
I HAVE f>5 White Leghorn pullets that 
were hatched last April. About two 
weeks ago some of them started to 
lose feathers; they do not eat their mash 
as they did before they began to molt. At 
present they only lay half the number of 
eggs that they were laying, eight eggs 
a day now. The mash that I am feed¬ 
ing contains 12 pounds cornmeal; 12 
pounds wheat middlings; 12 pounds beef 
scrap; six pounds bran ; three pounds Al¬ 
falfa; one tablespoonful salt. What do 
you think of this mash? Can you give 
me a better one for egg production? 
What do you think causes the molting? 
New Jersey. g. p. 
This is a good mash for egg production 
though high in protein and a “forcing” 
one; it should be balanced by oats, corn 
and buckwheat in the litter and by green 
food. If your pullets are really molting, 
it is evidence that they have been forced 
for early maturity almost too vigorously. 
It is uncommon, I think, for late April 
chicks to molt at this time, but I do not 
know but that this might occur if they 
were crowded along too fast. It is un¬ 
fortunate if it has occurred, but I know 
of no way now to overcome the difficulty. 
M. b. n. 
Protecting Hens from Colds. 
W HERE could I buy black oil? It is 
used for painting henhouses. I 
have read in several papers that it 
is a sure cure for roup. My hens seem 
to have colds every Winter. w. it. H. 
Massachusetts. 
I do not know the preparation called 
“black oil,” at least under that name. 
From its use, however, I should surmise 
it to be creosote, a coal tar preparation 
that is very effective as a spray or paint 
to rid poultry houses of vermin. This 
is too irritating for local administration 
to fowls suffering from colds and they 
may be given, instead, a little kerosene, 
injecting a drop or two into each nostril 
and the cleft of the mouth. A small- 
nozzled oil can is convenient for this 
purpose. Permanganate of potash crys¬ 
tals; a teaspoonful to the quart, should 
also be given in the drinking water, put¬ 
ting it into earthenware or wooden ves¬ 
sels. The flock should at the same time 
be protected from dampness and drafts in 
their living quarters but be given an am¬ 
ple supply of fresh air. M. b. d. 
Doctor : I consider the medical pro¬ 
fession very badly treated. See how few 
monuments there are to famous doctors 
or surgeons? Patient: Oh. doctor! T.ook 
at our cemetery.—Melbourne Lead'er. 
EN VOl 
The R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick 
reply and a ' square deal.” See guaran¬ 
tee editorial page. : : : : 
White Rnrnish Fowl -10 to 12 lb - males - 7 to 9 
nmie uurmsn runi females. Good layers. Eggs. 
$3.00 setting 15. Guarantee 11 fertiles. Replace¬ 
ments Free. Catalog. Mountsville Farms, Duck Rd., Mountvilte.Va. 
CADCAI P-SINGI.E COMB WHITE 
r LEGHORN YEARLING 
AND TWO-YEAR-OLD HENS, $1 each. 
GKO. L. FERRIS & SON, - Atwaters, N. V. 
r W StiprwnnTd heav y laying strain S. C.W. 
L. VY. onerwooa S L r , u0 pullets and f.00 breed¬ 
ing hens. Hatching eggs and day old chicks from 
February 1st. C. W. SHERWOOD, Saybrook Point, Conn. 
pOCKERFLS. Tom Barron Strain. White 
w Leghorns and White W.vandottes. Imported 
Stock, Mapledalo Egg Farm, Erin, N. Y.|^ 
Pullets, Yearling Hens, Cocks & Cockerels 
in lots to suit purchasers at attractive prices. 
MAPLE COVE POULTRY YARDS, - R. 24, Athens, Pa. 
S. C.W. LEGHORN CHICKS AND EGGS 
Circular. Warnken Poultry Farm, Salt Point, N. Y. 
Rarron H1 0 K S-EGGS. 
Darron ^ocKereis lindsay, Cutchooue, l.i 
dOCOY’S R. I. WHITES K 
layers and unexcelled as dressed poultry, and are 
easy to breed. Booklet free. J. A. JOCOY, Towanda, Pa. 
fifl Variotioc chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys 
DU V a I I GII Co GUINEAS and HARES Stock and eggs. «0 
page catalogue free. H A Sunder. Box 29, Sellersville. Pa 
50 Giant Rouen Drakes 
Sired by 1st Prize Drake, N. Y., 1U12, at $2.50. 43.50 and 
$5.00 each, Also fine Silver Wyandotte I’ullets at $2.00 
and $3.00 each. Order now. F. A. TIFFANY, Phoenixville, Pa 
CLEARVIEW FARMT,' Vo,lb ;' e< 1 . 1 ,ou H ,y ' 1>u<?ks - 
' , ^■-”***■*'** ■"■•If I Geese, Cavies. Interesting 
Catalog and Folder. E. B. SOUBER, S0UDERT0N, PA 
r^l I 1C C—Bargains in prize Pekins. LOCUST 
DUVr\0 HILL POULTRY FARMS, JULIAN, PA. 
Colored Muscovy Ducks 
$3 TRIO. 
JESSIE REYNOLDS. Petersburg. N. Y. 
M 
AMMOTH PEKIN AND BUFF ORPINGTON DUCKS. Choice 
trios and pens cheap. Geo. Williamson, Flanders, N. J. 
HALF WILD AND 
HALF BRONZE. 
John D. Smith, Walton, N. Y. 
M 
WHITE HOLLAND TURKEYS 
ing birds for sale. Satisfaction Guaranteed. White 
Wyandottes, Pekin Ducks. Early orders for best 
prices. Also buyer wanted for strictly fresh white 
and brown eggs. H. W. ANDERSON, Stewartstown, Pa. 
White Holland Turkeys - *?®" 3 ;.* 4 ' not° n akfn! 
Mrs. Charles Cottrell, Iloosick Falls, N. V. 
White Holland Turkeys^;;ffi n g 
Sl&urbcin Red TURKEYS^” 
Also Rhode Island Cockerels and Pullets Write for 
particulars. E. M. KERN, Springville, Indiana 
- TURKEYS- 
BRONZE TURKEYS ’ 
Pullets $4 to $fi. Eggs in season. Fine beautiful 
birds Hardiest and host strain known. 
AI.LIK HOLMES, West Winfield, New York 
GIANT BRONZE TURKEYS-^* 0 S 
and White Wyandottes. Cockerels and Pullets, $1.50 
to $3. C- A HEKSHEY, MoKnightstown, Fa. 
PITRF RR F n mammoth BRONZE TURKEYS, 
r UIvI-i UIvDD SilverCampinesand White 
Wyandottes. Satisfaction guaranteed. Stain p. 
Irving A. Wheeler, R. F. D. 2, Maplewood Farm. Massena.N.Y. 
Bronze Turkeys and Eggs - ^"?’.!: 
Prize winners. Mrs. H. Chumbley, Draper, Va. 
FOR C A I IT—A few choice Mammoth 
• v Bronze Turkeys bred from 
thoroughbred stock. R. E. SWIFT, Cherry Valley, N. Y. ; 
Mammoth Bronze Turkeysl^ r t e 0 d m f and25ib 5 
hens. Address, MRS. FRED EYSAMAN, MORAVIA, N. Y. 
f!iantRrnn 7 pTnm« S7 ,{>c Red Pullets, $1 50. 
Uianioronze 1 oms H j vflN q Y KE, Gettysburo, Pa. 
B A p R O M WYANDOTTE CHICKS 
/ \ I \ I \ W I N -203 EGG PEDIGREE 
<J We guarantee each chick Pure Barron Strain and each of our 
breeding pens to be headed by a cockerel imported by us direct from 
Tom Barron, of Catforth, England; the best laying strain in the world. 
Each of our Cock¬ 
erels is the son of one 
of Mr. Barron’s 
heaviest layers, a bird 
with a record of 283 
eggs in her pullet 
year. 
AM .MOTH Bronze Turkeys bred from big: hens and 
giant, prize-winning toms. SUNNYSIDE FARM, Jonesville, Va. 
Poultry Exerciser 
ISuild your automatic grain feeders and exer¬ 
cisers out of a wood box in fifteen minutes at a cost 
of eight cents each. For circular Write ITHACA 
FEEDER CO., Box 307-A, Ithaca, New York 
BUY THE KIND 
OF CHICKS 
THAT MAKES 
LAYERS 
Your Feed Bill is 
the Same 
*3 Price of Chicks 30 cents each, subject to discount of 10% on orders 
received before February 15th. SAFE DELIVERY GUARANTEED. 
C. E. BURGER - - ITHACA. N. Y. 
TOM BARRON’S 
WINNING WYANDOTTE PENS 
PA. CONTEST! WINNERS in tggt and value j 
aver* 289. '‘Baroneia > " laid 282 eggs : others* 274* 262. 
CON X. CONTEST: WINNERS in value; aver. 
208k* ; 2nd Prize In eggs. 
MISSOURI CONTI ST: 2nd PRIZE, likely; 
aver. 210. Barron Leghorns* 284 ; Huff Hocks. 242 ; 
Vibcrt Reds, 257. l'rlzo Houens. IHg Toulouse (Jeese. 
MORRIS-FARM, R. 4, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 
UIHITE WYANDOTTE COCKERELS from heavy laying trap 
** nested hens. Send for circular. Middlebroi. k 
Poultry Farm, Miss Marion I. Moore, Hamburg, N. Y. 
BARRED ROCKS 
bred to lay well and look well. We have an extra 
fine lot of husky, vigorous cockerels at $3 to$5 each 
Eggs in season. GEO. FALCONER, R. F. 0 , Milford, N. H. 
BARRED ROCKS! PfiPIfEREI 
ROSE COMB REDS J vUUIVCnCLo 
Big, husky, vigorous specimens. Business birds 
bred from business hens. FOUR ACRES, Nutley, N. J. 
eu A M PIG M—Barred and Partridge 
UnMlflrlUll Bocks, none better. $3 
each. Eggs, $3 and $5 sitting. Buy of the origina¬ 
tor's son, L. UPIIAM, WEBSTER, MASS. 
G OOD ROOSTERS CHEAP—Rocks, Reds, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, 
Leghorns, Minorcan, Games ami others. Write wants. Hig 
Illustrated circular Free. John E. Hoatwolo, Harrisonburg, Va 
F OR SALE— Buff Rocks, Breeding Hens, Thoroughbred 
yearlings. FLOYD OWEN, R.D. 2. Newburgh, N. Y. 
BARGAINS -African, Embden, Toulouse Geese 
Pekin, Runner,White Muscovy Ducks JLlhJoer.VH 
WHITE EMDEN GEESE- 
Finer than ever, 
buy your breeders 
now. Maple Cove Poultry Yards, R.24, Athens. Pa. 
A postal Card will 
bring you our new 
Reward List and full 
details of how you 
can obtain hundreds 
of useful articles by 
doing subscription 
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The 
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333 West 30th Street 
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BOOKS WORTH BUYING 
The Hose. Parsons. 1,00 
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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
333 WEST 30th ST., NEW YORK. 
WADC MAUK 
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ayi chicks from 118 eggs in the last contest. 
fn;PJW30 DAYS’ FREE TRIAL 
I *1^11 M Money back if not satisfied. 
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-Redwood 
' Insulated Board 
10-Year ■“ 
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kEast of Rockies^ 
140-EGG 
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| Don’t class this 
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Wins in the Two 
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140 
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IRONCLAD INCUBATOR COMPANY, Box Ml 
RACINE, WIS. 
