424 
'I' 11 L£ R. URAL NliW-YORKER 
March 1 
The Henyard. 
Destroying Egg Fertility. 
What is the best method of destroying 
the fertility of eggs that have to be sold 
for market? B - 
I know of no method of destroying 
tli<“ fertility of eggs that will not at the 
same time injure the quality or shorten 
the time during which the eggs may be 
kept fresh. Removing the males from 
the flock prevents fertility and except in 
case of breeding pens males should not be 
permitted to run with hens. M. b. d. 
Hens and Cesspool Overflow. 
Can any of your poultry experts give 
me advice on the subject of my cesspool, 
which is situated in the middle of the 
orchard, and the top of which is covered 
with weeds? It overflows slightly during 
heavy rains. Would the fruit growing 
on trees near by be injured for family 
use? Will the poultry that roam in this 
orchard take any injury from access to 
this cesspool? The soil is sand and 
gravel. o. b. 8. 
New Jersey. 
Fruit would not be injured by the 
presence of a cesspool in the orchard; 
in fact, I should judge that nearby trees 
would be benefited. Hens should not be 
allowed to drink from a cesspool, how¬ 
ever, and this may easily be prevented by 
enclosing it with poultry fencing. 
M. B. D. 
Leg Weakness and Bowel Trouble. 
1. What is the cause of and remedy 
for leg weakness in an eight-months-old 
pullet that possesses every evidence of 
health, is laying nearly every day and 
yet has attacks of helplessness when she 
seems unable to use her legs, squatting 
on the ground? I feed mash containing 
six pounds middlings, three bran, three 
Alfalfa, live meat scraps. 2. What in 
above ration causes the droppings of my 
birds to be loose and brown in color? 
New York. F. A. n. 
1. So far as I know, no one knows the 
cause of this form of leg weakness often 
seen in young fowls that have been con¬ 
fined and heavily fed for a considerable 
time. It is apparently the result of the 
above conditions, but I cannot say how 
they act to bring about the result. 
Rheumatism is sometimes adduced as a 
cause and very likely in some cases it 
is, in others, it is doubtful. 2. Your mash 
contains nearly one-third beef scrap, suf¬ 
ficient to cause looseness of the bowels 
and an unnecessarily large amount. 
M. B. D. 
Shrink in Laying. 
We are keeping about 200 chickens, 
White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds, 
in two houses, one 12x00 feet. The other 
house only has one pen, most of the 
chickens are March and April pullets. 
Some of the March pullets laid in Au¬ 
gust; White Leghorns did not begin till 
October 15, but increased the number 
of eggs until in January. We were 
gathering six and seven dozen per day. 
Two weeks later we were gathering two 
and three dozen per day. We are feed¬ 
ing just the same as we have all \\ inter; 
morning mash composed of bran, corn- 
meal, gluten, middlings and about one 
quart of ground buckwheat. Part of the 
time we put in one quart ground Alfalfa 
wetted with warm water. They have this 
same mixture with beef scrap mixed in 
before them in hoppers all the time. At 
noon, also at night, we feed in straw- 
litter wheat, oats and cracked corn. 
They are looking fine, have lost but two 
hens this Winter. They have dust boxes, 
oyster shell and grit; for green feed we 
have cabbage and beets, which we feed 
every other day, all they will clean up. 
Their droppings are rather soft and of a 
brown color instead of gray and white, 
as they should be. J• L. c. 
Ohio. 
There is nothing in your description to 
indicate anything wrong with your 
methods and it may be that your pullets 
have simply laid out their first clutch 
of eggs and are in the trough of the egg 
producing wave, which will gradually 
increase in height again. The looseness 
of the bowels may indicate over feeding 
upon cabbage and beets and it may be 
well to curtail their supply of these vege¬ 
tables a little. There may, of course, be 
something which you have not. observed 
tliat is reducing the egg yield, but there 
is nothing in your letter giving a clue 
to it. M. b. n. 
Leg Weakness. 
A FEW days ago I had a couple, of 
Black Minorca hens which seemed to 
lose the use of their legs; are all 
right other ways, eat well and seem to 
be healthy. I could give no cause; was 
feeding them just the same as the rest 
of the flock which are healthy. l)o you 
know of any treatment for the trouble? 
L. B. 
Leg weakness of this nature appears 
to be the result of close confinement and 
heavv feeding; just what its cause is, I 
do not know. In some cases it is thought 
to be rheumatism, in others, no explana¬ 
tion can be given. I should place these 
fowls by themselves, giving them all the 
range possible and feed moderately with 
plenty of green stuff and skim-milk, if 
I had the latter. They should be housed 
in dry quarters, free from drafts. 
M. B. D. 
Rye and Egg Yield. 
I S rye good for laying hens? I have 
fed it to my flock of IB and they 
stopped laying. I only fed it about 
three times a week, generally scorched it. 
They had begun to lay some, and after 
feeding the rye they stopped. Was it the 
rye? I have fed them wheat mornings 
and corn at night, most of the time vege¬ 
tables at noon and plenty of skim-milk. 
Over half of them are pullets, Barred 
Rocks. J. H. T. 
New York. 
There is no reason to think that the 
rye was responsible for the failure of the 
egg yield unless you made it so large a 
part of the ration that the hens refused 
to eat it and consequently did not get 
enough food. Rye does not vary greatly 
from wheat in its composition but it ap¬ 
pears to be much less palatable to hens 
and they are apt to refuse to eat it. 
There is nothing gained by scorching 
grain for fowls and probably a little 
something in the way of food value is 
lost. M. B. D. 
Feeding for Egg Fertility. 
W IIAT can T feed my bens to get good 
hatches from eggs? I am feeding 
corn, oats and buckwheat in the 
morning; at noon, mixed cornmeal, buck¬ 
wheat middlings, ground meat, ground 
raw potatoes, all mixed together for wet 
mash; at night, more corn, some oats and 
buckwheat. Cabbage is fed every day. 
Can I set my incubators about the first 
of March and get a good hatch? I set 
my incubators in the cellar. J. ii. 
New York. 
There are no foods that in themselves 
will produce fertility in eggs, this latter 
being a result of all the conditions mak¬ 
ing for good health and vigor in the breed¬ 
ing fowls. They should be well fed upon 
such foods as are suitable for egg pro¬ 
duction and given their liberty so far as 
possible. Hens that are forced for egg 
production through the Winter will not 
produce as strongly fertile eggs in the 
Spring as those that do not begin to lay 
until after mid-winter and those that are 
closely confined will not be as suitable 
for breeders as those having their full 
liberty. Late February and early March 
eggs should hatch well if conditions under 
which the breeding stock have been kept 
were favorable, but later eggs will do 
better. All things considered, April is 
the ideal month for hatching in the North 
and unless it is impossible to get out a 
sufficient number of chicks in that month 
and early May, I would not advise hatch¬ 
ing in March. m. b. d. 
Transmission of Disease. 
Is it possible to transmit 
rh<ea from the parent male 
chicks? 
to 
to 
white diar- 
bird to the 
I wish to purchase a cockerel 
place in my breeding pen, but fear 
get one which might have the germs 
of white diarrhoea planted in it when a 
chick and then transmitt it to my chicks. 
Pennsylvania. w. ,T. E. 
This has not been definitely determined 
as yet. It was first thought that the 
male bird could be given a clean bill of 
health in this matter; but the Storrs 
system of testing birds all over this .State 
(Connecticut) has found a number of 
males that reacted to the test. All of 
these that they could buy, were pur¬ 
chased and sent to Dr. Rettger for 
further test. In one case at least the 
organism — “bacterium pullorum” — has 
been recovered in the test tubes. It is 
still uncertain whether the male can 
transmit the disease, even when he has 
it. Probably the danger of bringing white 
diarrhoea into the flock by purchasing 
male birds from outside is so small as to 
be negligible. george a. cosgrove. 
“Mother wants a penn’orth of glory 
divine.” “We don’t keep that.” said the 
chemist. “Oh, yes you do,” the little 
maid retorted. “We’ve got it here be¬ 
fore. Mother puts it down the drain in 
tlie back yard.” Then the chemist knew 
that the “glory divine” was another way 
of saying chloride of lime.—Strand Mag¬ 
azine. 
B arred rock /t? All chicks guaran- 
.r>v nmrirc / teed to be the de- 
ABI IH llKfr ./ scendents of hens 
’ with records of 200 
SAFE DELIVERY to 236 eggs in their 
pullet year, and from hardy, vigorous stock. Buy 
chicks that make layers, —chicks bred from layers. 
Also a few WHITE ROCKS of same quality. 
Immediate delivery. Write for circular. 
C. E. BURGER, Rout* 50. ITHACA, N. Y. 
BARRON HATCHING EGGS 
We have 1.200 two-year-old S. O. W. Leghorn hens 
that were selected carefully for heavy laying and 
white eggs. These hens have been mated with 75 
eockerels imported direct from Tom Barron, Cnt- 
forth. England. Kggs, strictly from these matings, 
*8 per hundred; $70 per thousand: $1.50 per setting 
of 15 We are booking orders now. 
The Haven Lake Ugg Farm, Milford, Del. 
Pullets, Yearling Hens, Cocks & Cockerels 
in lots to suit purchasers at attractive prices. 
MAPLE COVE POULTRY YARDS. R. 24, Athens. P*. 
2000 
EGGS 
FROM FIRST-PRIZE PENS of ROSE 
COMB WHITE LEGHORNS or WHITE 
WYANDOTTES. *2 per 15; *3.50 for SO. 
MRS. A. ■. STIAD. Oulltord. N.Y. 
Rhode Island Reds 
TRAPNESTED 
Splendid cherry to mahogany rich growing red, 
thoroughbred, hen hatred, free range, open- 
front-colony house, hardy stock. Scientifically 
line bred away from broodiness- and for heaviest 
winter laying, on a strictly sanitary plant. 
Heaviest laying Reds in existence, laying rates 
211 to 267 eggs. HATCHING EGGS ffom mag¬ 
nificent, large, hardy, glowing red hens, not rml 
lets, mated to splendid, large, vigorous, burn¬ 
ing red males, themselves out of trapnested 
hens. Fertile, strong, hatcliable, large, unblem¬ 
ished eggs, gathered hourly, shipped daily, safe 
delivery guaranteed. White diarrhoea absolutely 
unknown. FINE BREEDING COCKERELS, early 
hutched; large, hardy, vigorous breeders, great 
stamina: long hacks, low tails, short legs well 
spread; brilliant rich glowing red and out of 
trapnested hens. BREEDING HENS, pullets, 
mated trios and breeding pens. Satisfaction or 
money returned. 
We ship all over V. S.. Canada, and abroad as 
far as Australia, and sell eggs and stock to 
States and the r. K. Government. Courteous, 
straightforward dealings. Spring egg orders 
now booking. 
Mating booklet on request. 
VIBERT RED FARM. Box 1. WESTON. N. J. 
REDS 
Uose and single 
comb Rhode Island 
Red Cockerels. 
Grand breeders 
from heavy layers. 
$3.00 and $5.00 each. 
Doty & Freese 
Route 9, Gen**®*, N.Y. 
COLONIAL REDS 
We solicit the custom of anyone desiring eggs for 
hatching or day old chix from a genuine pedigreed 
strain of trap nested Reds, single comb. Our 
Reds have made good in 46 States of the Union. 
Watch their position in International Egg Laying 
Contest, given in this paper. The Rhode Island 
State College is a recent customer. Write for 
mating list. We guarantee satisfaction to every 
customer. COLONIAL FARM, Temple. New Hampshire 
S. C. W. LEGHORN DAY-OLD CHICKS, between 
_March 23 and April 15; raised from selected 
yearling and two-year old stock, at 12 cents each. 
RICH. POULTRY FARM, - HOBART, N. T. 
BurnettTurkeys 
Madison Square, ,915. Gold 
Special: 1st, 2nd. 3rd Prizes on 
Cockerels; 1st on Pullet; 2nd and 3rd on Toms; Rhode 
Island Reds and Minorcas: hatching eggs, only $5 and $7 
per .hundred. New Book just published. Write 
W. L. BURNETT, - Montgomery, N. Y. 
- - BRONZE TURKEYS - - 
Toms. $5 to $10; Pullets, $4 to $6. Eggs in season. 
Fine, beautiful birds. Hardiest and best strain 
known. A I. LIE HOLMES, WEST WINFIELD. N. Y 
GIANT BRONZE TURKEY EGGS, £°?. p u r e 
$1.00 per 15. Fawn R. Duck Eggs, $1.00 per 12. Shrop¬ 
shire Sheep. II. J. Van Dyke, Gettysburg, l'a. 
WHITE HOLLAND TURKEYS ^f^eed- 
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 
DAKRON LEGHORN AND WYANDOTTE 
° eggs and chicks. Breeders have high trap-nest 
records. C. D. Baer, Box 554. t'onnellsville, l’a. 
DAIII TPYIIPM 8end stamp for Urge folder. 
ruuLimmcn EMT Donegal pigeon, poultry 
AND GUINEA PIG VARUS. Frank McMirtitn, Marietta. Pa 
_1 AND 1)00 
UAJA 1 .UI, rrcr.r.. riatching Kggs a 
Iwin Nouder, Dept. A,Telford, Pa. 
CAlinPD’C ILIA'S. POULTRY. HARE 
OUUUCIt a CATALOG FREE. Hatch! 
Specialty. Ktlwin Nouder, Dept. A, Tel 
u 
1IJ.ITY AMERICAN DOMINIQUES EGGS SI.75 
for 15 ; $ 6.00 por 100 . HERBERT 0 . ROOKS. MILLS. PA 
WHITE CORNISH 
FOWL—10 to 12 lb. males. 7 to 9, females Good 
layers. Kggs,$3.00 setting 15. Guarantee 10 lerti is. 
Replacements Free. Catalog. 
Mountsville Farms, Duck Rd.. Monntville, \ a. 
AUSTIN’S 200 Egg Strain S. C. R. 1. ' 
DMC-Staudard bred high record stock, red t<» tlie 
skill. Egijs, $1 50 to $5.00 (15). Utility, 
$7.50 (100). Safe delivery ami 9U?4 fertility gnnran- “ 
teed: Husky, well grown cockerels, $3.00 to $5.00. [j 
Chicks. Booklet. Austin’s Poultry Farm, Box 17, Centre Harbor, N.H. 
__(j 
Trap-Nested S.C. R.l. Reds 
yearly records as high as 258 eggs. All breeding f 
males from over 200-egg hens. Prices reasonable. U 
Catalogue free. A. Allan, .Jr., Newport, R. I. p 
BARRED ROCKS ‘ 
bred to lay well and look well. Book your order for hatch- ® 
ing eggs now. Circular, geo. falconer, r. F- d . Milford, H. H _ 
BARRED ROCKS \ 
Business birds: bred to lay, and they do it. Size, 
type, color, layers; a combination you can’t beat. 
Hatching eggs. Write for folder. 
“ FOUR ACRES,” - Nutley, N. J. 
t-i _Barred P. Rocks. S. C. It. I. 
1 norOUgnDrea Keds. White Orpingtons and 
Fawn White, Runner Ducks. Kggs for hatching. 
Very best strains. Descriptive circular free. 
Stinnysitle Poultry Farm, - Pittsville, Aid. 
“Perfection”Barred Rock Eggs 
from Thompson, Hawkins, Bradley anti Riley 
strains. Pens headed by prize winners. $5 per 15. _ 
Utility. $1.50 per 15; $8 per 100. Transportation paid . 
on all ordersot $5 and over. Dr. Hayman. Doylestown. Pa | 
Barred Rock Cockerels ] 
Nonpareil Strain. $2 each. Kggs in season. ( 
B. 11 . HKNION, Broekport, New York ( 
Wilson’s While RocksTS^o^'iS ( 
houses, large, husky, day-old chicks. Hatching i 
eggs. Circular. WILSON’S POULTRY FARM Hollis, N H. _ 
UIUITE nnnirc (Fishel Strain). Fine stock, great 
TVnllb nUUIVO layers. Kggs * 1 , $ 1.50 per,. 15; | 
$5 and $6 per 100. ARTHUR SCOFIELD, (Jr.cn llaren, N. Y. | 
Mammoth Pekin Ducks 1 
Satisfaction guaranteed. Get. F. Williamson, Baa 160 , Flanders, K.J. 
w w w fs f r c% Recces* St rain of Barred Ply immth 
( r-f 11 IC N Rocks and Single-Oomb While 
llV/laU Leghorns. Prices right. Send for 
1915 FREE CATALOGUE full of information you want. i 
SHADY HILL POULTRY FARM, Bolton. Mass. 
Tom Barron’s White Leghorns i 
imported direct. 3d season. ‘280*egg .strain. Pure 
males and families. Fertile eggs. $1 and $2 per set; 
$7 pe** 100. P. F. Rafferty, Marlboro, Mass. 
S. C. W. LeghornS'&s^’.te: 
Circular. FERNW00U POULTRY FARM. Salt Point, New York 
niCPniIMT on early orders for Rathbuneroft 
UlauUUn 1 single Comb White Leghorn hatch¬ 
ing eugs from large, strong farm-bred stock. $1 pet- 
15; $5 per ion. Baby chicks also- Satisfaction 
guaranteed. Rathbuneroft, Cincinnatus, N.Y. 
BARRON STRAIN ‘SH 
buy Fertile eggs, *1.50 per 15; $6 per 1(10- t hicks. 
$15 per 100. 6-woeks-old pullets. Satisfaction guar¬ 
anteed. W. K. Gather, Box 175 . Winchester, A a. 
O r n/Ln I ..L...Cnnc AND CHICKS FOR SALE, 
S. L. White Leghorn fcggS f rom Heavy layers. 
Farmers’ prices. Sunny Side Poultry Farm, Freehold, N. J. 
HATCHING EGGS I.VT^° 15 
The ‘Prices that Live and bet Live” for Guaranteed 
7<K Fertile Kggs from fancy selected White Leghorn* 
-S. O. Red*—Harrell Rock*. Mammoth Pekin 
Rucks, Pearl Guinea*. Send your order NOW, 
with 25 Deposit 
SUNNYMEAO FARMS '850 Acr.s , MILLSTONE, N.J. 
C. Dryspalk Black, Director, b0 Broadway, >*. > • 
WHITE LEGHORN EGGS 
Hens selected for high production, long life and 
▼igor. $5 per hundred: $50 per thousand. 
that fail to hatch replaced at half price. 
Aiken Farm, - R» D« 2$ Itliaea, N. V. 
CHIC DDCCnC YOU CANNOT BUY 
rive BKtLUO STRONGER VITAL- 
On 45 ACRES nr. Eggs for hatching. 
FREE RANGE Da y oWehick ' 
rllCk HHHUC shohoUFriiiland Poultry Farm 
Write for Circulars. Shoholo, P»nnsylv»ni« 
Campines 
They will lay for you. Show 
birds, utility stock and eggs. 
Mrs. E. A. Hawkins 
3456 Narraginsctt Ave., Chicago 
Anconas & R. I. Reds 
Very Best Strains 
Illustrated Catalogue Free 
Silserton Poultry Farm 
Box 1 E. Syracuse, N. Y. 
Safe 
DUCKS GEESE. TURKEYS. 
HARES Stock and eggs, (id 
rass 
own 
, —CH IC K S — EGG S. 
) LINDSAY, Cutcliociie, I..I. 
STRAIN HEAVY LAYING BUFF 0RPINGT0NS-$2. up. 
"Eggs and chicks. UWEN E. MEIIDUS, Stanley. N Y 
English 200-Egg Strain 
MOST PROFITABLE POULTRY KNOWN 
>rpin 
OvF, 
the laying 
PENNSYLVANIA POULTRY FARM 
Lancast.r, Pa. 
ARKINGIUN SIXAIN 8. b. W LtbnUKn* i ai.uogue I lee 
James F. Harrington, Hainniontun, N. ,1. 
inurnp' D IICI IIC C C UCU f»r Kggs and Meat 
ftnlYlbHo DUoIntoo ntli Trap-nested White 
ton Eggs and Chicks. Square deal guaranteed. 
O i'KKK. IlKLIABLF. YARDS, ( idler Road, l.jom, N.Y. 
„„„ ..J0STERS CHEAP— Rooks, IteiU, Orpingtons, Wyamluliei. 
Leghorns, Minorcas, O.mes and others. Write wants. Rig 
ed circular Free. John E. Hoatwole, Harrisonburg, Vs 
Kggs, $5 per 100; $4(1 per 1 Oi l), express paid 
A-E 
« ^ u iq ^ — Baby O h i c k s , 
I U I 11S Hatching Eggs 
HAMPTON Box R. Pittstown, N. J 
i:.; tl .-.o per so. Mottled Anconas, hi. Mill.Teas. Eggs, $!."<> 
ELIZABETH POULTRY FARM 
DAY-OLD CHICKS AND EGGS FOR HATCHING 
:. ( . Brown Leghorns, Kulps Strain, S. C. W 
WAR EEL A- HON, Itolirmtown, 
IIBAPQUAKTKRS FOR 
Sicilian Buttercups 
The laying, paying breed. Record 
of 300 eggs a year per hen. 
Sllier C»nipin«s. World famous egg pro 
nr maqk ducers. Columbian Rocks. Best general )HI I 
pose brsed—best ot‘ mothers—very beautiful 
Descriptive illustrated catalog free, 
li HILL FA KM, Hoi K. Little Silver, N. .1. 
I Money Making Poultry 
Our specialty. Leading varieties pure-bred chick 
ens. turkeys, ducks and geese. Prize winners. 
Best stock and eggs. Lowest prices; oldest 
farm. Fine 30th Anniversary catalog FREE. 
JONES CO., Box 163, De» Moines, lows 
• ILVER SPANGLED HAMBURGS— unsurpassed for eggs 
* combining beauty. Kggs- $1.50, 15: $2.50, 3" 
[ABV CHICKS, DUCKLINGS, HATCHING 
KGGS—Red», Rocks, Leghorns, Columbian TV y 
idottes. Pekin and Runner Ducklings. Brooders, 
icubators. Catalog. Frod C. Norton, Fall River. Mass 
nwrlwto 
it Sale -Eggs for Hatching":); lt cK24° S °i p i? 
outli Rocks $3 a dozen or two dozen for $5. Pure 
■ed bronze turkey eggs $5 per dozen. All are blue 
bbon stock. W. L. GAY, Lime Rock, Connecticut 
lit tWli/tn bfc.fc.SL buy your breeders 
MapleCovePoultry Yards. R.24, Athens, Pa 
