The rural southerner & plantation. (Atlanta, Georgia) 1866-18??, April 01, 1875, Page 5, Image 5

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Management of Poultry. A friend from Long Island has handed us a slip containing a communication from Mr. W. M. Tuthill, of Sulfolk County, in which that gentle man communicates a year’s experience as to the profitableness of growing poultry, commencing March 1, 1873, and ending February 28, 1874. This is Mr. Tuthill’s statement: Dr. T • stock on hand March 1, 1873$ 75 00 ** Feeding the same and their produce, 173 75 $248 75 Or. By stock on hand March 1,1874. .... .$l5O 00 524 dozen eggs sold 118 09 151 ducks sold 153 10 74 chicks sold 38 64 39 fowls sold 42 60 $502 43 Deduct expenses24B 75 Balance for profits2s3 68 Mr. Tuthill communicates, along with the fore going, his method of managing his fowls, and says : “ One of the most essential things, in winter, is to have a warm house for chickens to roost in. The best way to have a house constructed for winter use, is to have it partially under ground, facing to the south, with a slanting roof, reach ing within three feet of the ground on the north side, and the front or south side covered with windows, so that the fowls may enjoy the warm rays of the sun, without being exposed to the piercing winds and freezing cold. For a sum mer house the building should be above ground, with ventilators, so that the fowlscan be kept com fortable during the hot nights of summer. In the fall, as the weather becomes cool, shut up your summer roost, and your fowls will soon take to their winter quarters again. In winter I give my fowls a warm pudding for breakfast, then keep corn by them during the day. I also keep scrap-cake by them from early fall till spring.— Pet Stock Bulletin. Breeding Poultry for Profit. Herewith we give our readers a statement of the sales of Mr. W. H. Todd, from July Ist, 1873, to July Ist, 1874, of poultry, eggs, etc.: Lights Brahmas—2olsl,l74.oo Dark Brahmas—l 67 1,066 00 Buff, Partridge, White and Black Cochins —298 1,703 60 Total Asiatics—742 birds .... 3.943 60 Other varieties land and water fowls—62B birds 2,823 5 Total Fowls—l, 365......................... 6.767 10 Eggs sold for hatching -281 sittings of Asiatics. 1,236 59 Other varieties —270 sittings 716 75 Making a total of M7 sittings 2,151 42 Tiie aggregate of choice poultry and eggs 8,918 52 Prizes won in cash 1,132 00 Common Eggs—l,2B4 dozen 249 30 Capons and market fowls 100 00 Value of manure 200 00 Profits on sales of books and agencies 200 00 Eggs and fowls in family 75 00 Grand t0ta110,874 52 Expenses 3,500 00 Net proceeds $7,874 82 $3,500 covers all expenses. How many of our farmers who own and cul tivate 160 acres of laud can make as good a showing in net profits as is here exhibited? We shall be glad to hear from one farmer in the country who can give a statement of net pro ceeds coming anywhere near the above. Prevention of Chicken Cholera and Roup. 1 have for the last two years tried, at the least calculation, fifty different remedies for the cholera and roup, for 1 have lost during that time one hundred and fifty chicks. I keep about fifteen or twenty laying hens. About this time the roup would take my chicks and kill them all off but two or three; then I would recruit my stock, and the cholera would take and kiP them. I have at last found a remedy, however, which I wish to give to the public. 1 have lost but two chicks since I commenced using this remedy, and that was my fault, for 1 had neglected to use it. fake one gallon of tar, rosin, or crude tur pentine, and after dark, when your chicks have gone to roost, smoke them, making a dense smoke, so that it will burn during the night ; do this once or twice during the week.—/oAa ('Arran/, Poultry World. Ointment -Take three carrots and grate them; place in a vessel and cover with lard, without salt, if convenient; boil thoroughly, strain and add auflicivnt beeswax to make a paste. This is a most invaluable ointment for cuts, burns, scalds, or wounds of any kind. •THE MiLSQWm WWW ■ Premium Offered. Atlanta, Ga., April Ist, 1875. Mr. Editor: — You are hereby authorized to say that I will give a pair of pure bred Brown Leg horn Chicks in the fall to any one who will send you twenty subscribers at SI.OO each, within the next sixty days. Respectfully, Wm. McNaught, Jr. ♦— — Brown Leghorns. Allow me to say a word in favor of the Brown Leghorns, my experience being as fol lows : I tried common barn door fowls, but such a uniformity as I desired could not be attained in size, color, etc., though I have some extra hens as far as hardiness is concerned; so I purchased some Light Brahma eggs and obtained from them about twenty fowls. I have reason to believe them good Winter layers, but such persistent sitters, that their Summer’s work would go on the wrong side of my journal. Also, they would kill ten per cent, of the chicks within two weeks after hatching, and gave me trouble in taking the wrong nest, after leaving for a bath during incubation. But their chicks were very hardy, and best of all to rear for early market. I have tried Dorkings, however, but the best fowl as regards early maturity, handiness, great laying qualities, good flesh, and beauty, are the Brown Leghorns. I now have, January 20th, twenty-three Brown Leghorns, and forty other fowls, and just got an even number of eggs from each yesterday. I con sider the Brown Leghorns the most profitable for a farmer in my situation, where fowls go ad hbitum. I have a few red ear-lobed Brown Leg horns, and they are penciled all over, are larger, and I think better layers, as I presume the white ears have been looked at, and no re gard paid to laying qualities. I am trying a first cross between them and Brahmas, as their comb is the only drawback.—T. J., M.D., in the Poultry World. Color of Chickens —Alex. B. Ritchie, Broad Brook, Conn., writes; “1 wish you would inform me whether Black Leghorns, which, when hatched are half black and the other white, are what would be called full bred, for I have just began to raise fowls. I saw an advert isemont of Black Leghorns, and thought I would try them and paid $1.50 for six eggs and got 3 chicks, and they were all half black and half white, and what I want to know is whether they would be called full bred.” Reply.—The young of Black Leghorns and other black breeds, are pure white upon the breast and under parts; after a while the white feathers give place to jet black ones. We lately received a message from a disappointed and exasperated amateur, who complained that his W. C. Black Polish chicks hatched from im ported eggs, had breasts as white as were their crests. We told him that if his chicks had black backs and sides, and white top-knots, he might call himself a fortunate man.] — Poultry World. Operating on the Crop.—A. E. Abbott, East Hampton, Mass., says: “ Having read in your valuable magazine of several persons opening the crop of fowls when crop bound, 1 yesterday had my first experience with a six weeks old Light Brahma chick. Taking a small, sharp pen knife, I made a small incision, and gradually withdrew the food therefrom, finding the obstacle that obstructed the regular passage of the food to be a small feather that the chick bad un doubtedly swallowed,anticipating a savory mouth ful. I did not sew up the cut, but let the chick run with the others. This morning I had to look some time before discovering which it was, they were all so lively. That chick is doing well, and I have added a little to my knowledge of * how to do it.’ ” Poultry World. Remarkable Laying.—Robert James Denver, Col., says: “ Thinking you would like an-item from the far West, 1 write to say, 1 have a yard of fine Partridge Cochin fowls, 4 hens and 1 cock. One of the hens being occupied in sitting I got in one day six perfect eggs, all of a good size, from the above fowls. A pretty tough story you will say. but it is a true one. nevertheless. It is possible that the sitting hen laid an egg. I cannot tell, but anyhow six eggs from four hens will do. For layers and sitters the breed cannot be beat, as fir as my experience goes.” Will Eggs Hatch Shippbd by Expbbsb.—J. H. W., Lucas. Ohio, writes; ‘‘l received 13 Light Brahma eggs on the 30th of April last, from P. Williams, Taunton, Mass , a distance of over one thousand miles, and hatched from them 13 fine healthy chickens. They were packed in cut hay with three thicknesses of paper around each egg and the •‘mall end down. The box was light and strong, the top securely fastened down with setews, with a strong piece of leather across the top for a handle. Massachusetts Poultry Exhibition. At the Massachusetts Poultry Exhibition, Boston, January 29 to February 5, 1875, was a grand success. There were 1,326 entries. Gen. Charles A. Johnson, of Newburyport, Mass., carried off the honors as follows: Gen. Johnson took the Ist, 2d and 4th prizes for Aylesbury Ducks, as well as the special pre mium for the best collection; the Ist prize for Rouen ducks ; the Ist prize for Embden geese, as well as the special prize for the largest pair of Embden geese (weight a fraction over 53 pounds); and the special prize for Brandt geese. Gen. Johnson’s stock of Aylesbury ducks, im ported direct, is, without doubt, the best in the country, while the General himself is unques tionably our most successful breeder of this spe cies of birds. Eggs in a Hen. A curious point of inquiry among zoologists has been, for a long time, how many eggs there are in the ovary of a hen. To determine this, a German naturalist a short time since instituted some careful investigations, the result of which showed the ovary of a hen to contain about 600 embryo eggs. He also found that some twenty of these are matured the first year, about 120 during the second year, 135 during the third, 144 during the fourth and during the fifth, sixth, seventh and eight years, the number decreases by twenty annually; it consequently follows that after the fourth, or at the most the fifth year, hens are no longer profitable as layers, unless it may be in exceptional instances. Sex of Eggs. We take the following from an exchange: “I raise as many pullets among my chickens as I wish to, while some of my neighbors complain that their chicks are all roosters, and they can not see why there should be a difference. I will tell you here what I told them, and for the bene fit of those that do not know, that the small round eggs are female eggs, and the long slender ones are males. This rule holds good among all kinds of poultry, and I dare say all kinds of birds. So if you wish to raise pullets, set the small, round eggs; if you wish to raise roosters, set the long, slender ones; in this way you will be enabled to raise whichever sex you wish to.” The above we expect to read somewhere at least once a year. It is perennial, and will outlive the wandering Jew himself. With the exception that it is an unmitigated lie, it is all right. As Tho reau would say, it is one of the things that every generation is fond of repeating, whether it is true or not.— Poultry World. A Remarkable Duck.—W. 8., Mt. Ver non, 111., says: “Seeing an article about a duck laying two eggs in one day, I thought I would tell you about one I have. I keep 1 drake and 2 ducks, one morning I got two eggs laid from the two, and in the afternoon I got another from one of the ducks, and she laid the next day also, mak ing three eggs from one duck in about twenty four hours. The reason I know that one duck laid three is, that she lays eggs of a light green ish color, while the other lays white ones. The eggs were all of the usual size and perfectly shaped.— Poultry World. Driving Business.—l’. W., Linden,N. J..writes, “that he has a black hen, common American trash, that brought home a brood of chickens, having stolen her nest on the 13th October; raised them under difficulties, commenced laying latter part of December, and laid “like smoke,” no account being kept, until 15th of February, when she was set, raised and weaned her chick ens, and commenced laying 20th April, laying every day but one up to 14th May, when I found the fever again strong upon her.”-P. World. Roup in Fowls.—ln the Poultry World is giv en this method of treating this disease. “If any of the fowls "breathe hard, snap their heads or run at the nostrils, give a teaspoonful of cas tor oil. If their nostrils are stopped up and they make a whistling sound or open thir mouths to breathe, make a strong suds of castile soap and lukewarm water, and with a small sponge wash out the mouth an 1 threat, clean out the nostrils, then give the oil.” We advise those trubled with this disease to try this remedy. Prolific Turret.—W. A. Myers, New Oxford, Pa., write*: “ 1 have in my possession a White Holland Turkey Hen, wichh, as an egg-producer, bids fair to rival the famous Leghorns. She began laying the last of March, and up to the present lime. July 10th, hxs laid sixiy-five eggs, and is laying yet. During this time she has not offered to sit, and has at no time been more than three days without producing an egg.’ CHOLERA. Much has been said about this scourge of the poultry yard, and many different medicines have been prescribed, and many “ sure cures” dis covered, which have nearly always failed to cure when put to the test. Now, we do not pretend to have discovered an infallible remedy for this destructive disease, but will simply give the particulars of a case for what they are worth. A few months ago we had a valuable Rouen drake stricken with this fell destroyer. Being away from home at the time, the disease was al ready far advanced when first brought to our notice. All the symptoms showed cholera in its worst form. Feeling quite sure that he would die in spite of all that could be done, we decided to try the merits of kerosene oil, hav ing heard from various sources that it was a “ sure cure.” Taking some corn meal we stirred into it kerosene oil, making it quite wet; then administered a dose in the shape of a good-sized pill, and awaited the result. He appeared to grow weaker, being unable to hold up his head. Then we gave him another pill and allowed him to drink freely. Thus matters went on without much apparent change during the first day, in which time we gave about four or five of the pills, allowing him to drink freely of pure wa ter at brief intervals. At the end of this time he began to revive, and continued gaining steadily until well; several pills were given after he commenced to improve. Kerosene may not be & sure “sure cure,” but in this instance we are confident that it saved the life of the bird. If there are other breeders who have tried this or other remedies we should be pleased to hear their experience in the, mat ter.—National Poultry Journal. Gravel lor Fowls. There is one thing, says the National Poultry Journal, that is more necessary for the health, comfort and productiveness of fowls than gravel. A bountiful supply of eggs can only be obtained when a corresponding supply of gravel, or some substitute therefor, is provided for the layers. Appropriate to the subject we quote the follow ing from the Growing World: Hen’s Teeth. “Scarce as hen’s teeth.” This is an old saw. Yet you should see to it that your fowls are possessed of good teeth. Not natural ones exactly, neither artificial ones; but natural-artificial ones, in the shape of gravel stones, with which they may triturate the food in their gizzards. Hen’s teeth comprise no in cisors, nor canines ; but are all grinders. The flattish or scaly gravel is not suitable, but a form approaching the apherical is to be pre ferred. If your neighborhood is not gravelly, blocks of granite or quartz may be reduced to irregular, angular fragments, which are excel lent. Shells of the quahog, or round clam, pounded, servo the double purpose of grinding, and affording a supply of lime for the formation of egg shells, and on this account are better than oyster shells. Remedy tor all Poultry Diseases.—A cor respondent, signing himself “H. E. W.,” com municates to the Lonpon Land and Water what is assumed to be a ” remedy for all kinds of dis eases in poultry.” He says: “ Our Australian friends use pickled wheat as a medcine for their fowls, and declare that it works an unfailing cure; that the effects of a few grains are almost magical; if a fowl be too ill to eat, with a swollen heap, and unable to see how to pick up its food, a dozen or two of the pickled grains should be put down its throat. The wheat is pickled with bluestone. Good Weight.—S. G. Wood, Nashville, Ten nessee, says : “ I have a Light Brahma cockerel, that weighs at four months old four pounds and thirteen ounces. The Southern Publishing Compaay Want agents for the Womans Home Book of Health, the only complete work of the kind. No la ly can afford to be without it. Price $2.50 5