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BULLETIN

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

1915: No. 66

NOVEMBER 25 1915

Schoolhouse Meeting

Discussion of

Poultry on the Farm

Prepared by

T. J. CONWAY

Assistant Professor of Poultry Husbandry in the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas, and

Cc. P. BLACKWELL

Instructor in ‘Agricultural Education in
' The University of Texas

Published by the University six times a month and entered as
second-class matter at the postoffice at

AUSTIN, TEXAS

_ Momegrapn

The benefits of education and of
useful knowledge, generally diffused
through a community, are essential
to the preservation of a free gov-
ernment.

Sam Houston.

Cultivated mind is the guardian
genius of democracy. .. . It is the
only dictator that freemen acknowl-
edge and the only security that free-
men desire.

Mirabeau B. Lamar.

dp. of Be
JUL 1 4918

To the Chairman of the Schoolhouse Meeting:

The discussions of the questions given below have been pre-
pared for the meeting to be held at the schoolhouse on Friday
afternoon and are for the use of the person who conducts the
meeting. Usually it will be best to have the questions written
upon the blackboard before the meeting opens. When the time
for discussion arrives, first have the question read aloud and
then call for discussion from the members present. Occasion-
ally the chairman should call out someone whom he knows to
be well qualified to answer the question. At times it is well
to let such person know several days in advance that he or she
will be called upon so that special preparation may be made
by study of some of the bulletins referred to in the bibliography
or of other literature. As soon as discussion has brought out
whatever of interest the members present may know, then have
read the discussion of the question that is given below, and,
if desirable, allow discussion of that. Good judgment must
be used by the chairman in calling out discussion and in
stopping it before it becomes unprofitable. At times it would
be well to omit or pass lightly over certain questions and con-
centrate on others. Be sure to stop before the members are
tired and always try to have the ideas that are brought out
applied to the local conditions and needs. When a meeting
results in a desire to carry out some practical plan, arrange
for those interested in this plan to remain after the meeting and
take the necessary steps at once. Strike while the iron is hot.

Fellow Teacher and Fellow Citizens:

The topic to be discused today is one of the highest importance
for the prosperity of Texas farms. We have not yet begun to
take poultry raising seriously in Texas. With our mild winters
and continuous green throughout the year, Texas is far better
situated for poultry raising at a minimum of both cost and labor
than Missouri or Illinois or New York, where snow and ice covers
the ground for many months each year and poultry must have
expensive houses, and be fed its entire ration for six months in
the year. Yet the farms in these States are making millions
each year on poultry, whereas, Texas farms hardly produce
enough for their home tables. Furthermore, the number of
fowls on the farms in Texas actually decreased from 1900 to 1910
from 15 million to 14 million, while the fowls in Oklahoma in-
creased from 5 to 9 million, in Kansas from 13 to 16 million, in
Missouri from 16 to 21 million. Still worse, our poultry is of
much lower grade, the average value per fowl in Texas being 36
cents, as against 44 cents in Oklahoma, 47 cents in Kansas and 57
cents in Missouri.

If one does his own rough cerpentering he can build for about
twenty dollars.a poultry house large enough to accommodate a
hundred hens in accordance with the plans in this bulletin. The
fountain feed-hoppers and watering devices can be made for a
few cents out of an old goods box. With this equipment, and
with the planting of a succession of small patches of wheat, oats,
rape, turnips, chard, beets, sunflowers, Egyptian wheat, milo or
similar crops, the poultry can be raised at almost no expense but
the labor. This labor is all light and ean be done by children and
by adults at odd hours. Think of what 1t would mean if every
farm home in Texas would build up a flock of a hundred good
hens. If these hens laid nine or ten dozen eggs each per year,
the eggs would bring, at 25 cents per dozen, ninety-six million
dollars, besides leaving enough eggs for hatching to keep up the
supply of hens and sell off each year ten million dollars worth
of surplus roosters and culled hens. This sum is more than
half the value of our cotton crop and could be secured without
decreasing that crop a single bale. Let us awake to our oppor-
tunity.

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 5)

The main obstacles to success in poultry raising thus far in
Texas have been the use of scrub stock and the ravages of in-
sects. Unless these problems are met properly, failure is cer-
tain, for scrub poultry covered with mites, lice, or blue bugs will
not pay for its keep. The discussion in this bulletin will show
how these difficulties may be overcome. The methods of handling
poultry here given have been worked out by the best trained
scientists and tried out in successful actual experience for years
by practical poultry raisers, so that there can be no doubt that if
these directions are carefully followed out success must result.

Let us begin to recognize poultry raising as one of the most
profitable side lines on our farms, and put ourselves in position
to profit from it.

Not only is poultry raising profitable, but it is a fine thing for
the development of a boy. It is good for a boy to have some-
thing of his own to care for, and something to give him a little
income of his own. The daily attention to his poultry, the study
of bulletins and books on the subject, the working out of his
plans and overcoming his difficulties develop his intelligence and
his character. It is equally as good for a girl. There are hun-
dreds of thousands of boys and girls on Texas farms that would
develop themselves and the poultry industry of Texas at the
same time if encouraged properly to do so. Let us give them
a chance.

A. CASWELL ELLIS.

SCHOOLHOUSE MEETING
DISCUSSION OF POULTRY ON THE FARM:
QUESTIONS

1. Name some advantages that poultry offers for supplying
the farm home with cheap meat, and some advantages of poul-
try raising in general.

2. For the person who has no poultry at cals suggest some
good methods of getting started.

3. What breeds of chickens are best adapted to this locality
for egg and meat production?

4. Why should the farmer keep but one breed?

5. What is the smallest size flock a farm should have?

6. Name three systems of poultry farming which may be
successful on a general farm or a poultry farm.

7. When is an incubator desirable?

8. Discuss the care of baby chicks for the first 48 or 72
hours after hatching.

9. Discuss the proper management of young chicks after the
first 48 or 72 hours.

10. What are capons?

11. What are the advantages of caponizing?

12. Give some practical suggestions for the housing of
chickens in Texas.

13. Discuss plans and specifications for a house that will
accommodate 100 hens.

14. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of allowing
hens to run on the open range.

15. How may poultry diseases best be prevented?

16. Name some means by which diseases may be spread
among fowls and give some general methods of combating any
contagious disease that may chance to break out among your
chickens.

1The authors are indebted to Mrs. Benigna G. Kalb, Governor of
Texas Farm Women, for helpful suggestions in the preparation of
this bulletin.

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 7

17. What insects are troublesome in your community, and
how may they be combated?

18. What is a good food ration for baby chicks?

19. What food is best for the production of eggs? How
would you modify this ration to fatten fowls?

20. (a) How would you secure a pure-breed flock that
averages ten to twelve dozen eggs per hen per year? (b) What
are some of the points to be observed in selecting laying stock?
(c) What are some of the points to be observed in egg produc-
tion ?

21. How ean you have your hens lay 10 winter when the
ae of eggs is high?

(a) How often should eggs be gathered? (b) How
may ene eggs be secured, and ce are they preferable to
fertile eggs?

23. What is meant by eohaienet or egg-testing? How may
a simple and inexpensive egg-tester be made?

24. How may spring eggs be preserved for winter use?

25. What are some of the causes of infertile eggs? How
should eggs be selected for hatching.

26. Name some factors to be considered in marketing eggs.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

No. 1. ¢(1) It requires only a small amount of land and
eapital. (2) It offers quick. and paying returns; first, in eggs
and meat for the table; second, in cash which may be had from
the surplus every month in the year. (3) Eggs have the same
kind of food value as meat; they offer a cheap substitute for
it, and when properly cooked are more easily digested than
meats; and they are better food for growing children. (4)
Poultry requires less food in proportion to the return than any
other form of live stock. (5) With proper equipment, it re-
quires comparatively little time and labor, and, in the mild
climate of Texas, but very little expense for housing. (6) It
is a healthful occupation and is well adapted to either sex.
(7) Poultry utilizes many of the waste products about the
place and contributes much valuable fertilizer to the soil. (8)
It is the most convenient source of fresh meat. (9) The
products can be marketed easily and at all seasons of the year.
(10) It enriches the soil. (11) It distributes the labor
throughout the year and furnishes work that all members of
the family can help with. (12) It is suited to either country
or village conditions.

No. 2. (1) Buy a few pure-hred birds of the breed pre-
ferred. These need not be high-priced show birds, but should
be from healthy, heavy-laying stock. A combination egg and
meat breed is usually best for the farm, though as a rule one
will do best with that variety he or she personally Lkes best.
There are many good breeds. Good hens should lay not less
than ten to twelve dozen eggs per year. It shows poor busi-
ness judgment to keep hens that average much less, though the
average for Texas is probably less than forty eggs per hen per
year. Hens that have passed their first year of laying are
better breeders than pullets, though well matured pullets may
be used if older birds cannot be had. It is better to mate a
well matured cockerel with hens. It is also important that the
male come from a strain of heavy egg producers, as heavy lay-
ing is a quality which may he transmitted through the male as
well as the female. (2) If unable to buy pure-bred birds, you

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 9

may start with ordinary healthy chickens, and later buy one
or more sittings of eggs from healthy, pure-bred hens, hatching
them under the common hens. When matured, this new stock
should be kept separated from the mixed stock, and the latter
gradually disposed of, so as to leave only the pure-bred on the
yard. If this separation is not practicable, kill or sell all
males except those of pure breeding before the pure-bred pul-
lets begin to lay, and later dispose of the birds of mixed breed-
ing as soon as you can raise pure-bred hens to take their place.
This method is quite satisfactory, especially since the outlay is
small, and practical experience is thus gained on cheap birds.
The use of an incubator is not recommended in the beginning
under average farm conditions, and plans for installing an in-
eubator should not be made until the flock is of sufficient size
to produce within a week or ten days the number of eggs re-
quired by the capacity of the machine. It is unwise to hold
the eggs longer than a week or ten days before setting, and in
hot weather even less time should be allowed. (3) A start
with pure blood may also be made by securing day old chicks
from some reliable breeder whom you know to have healthy
stock. In this case, broody hens or some kind of chick hover
and brooder must be provided to care for the chicks. Or one
may begin by buying six or eight-weeks-old pullets, these be-
ing practically past the danger period, and the male birds may
be added when ready to use for breeding purposes.

The greatest care should be used to secure eggs or foundation
stock from breeders who breed only from healthy birds. Consti- —
tutional vigor is more important than any other one factor in
the selection of breeding stock. Never buy birds or eggs
from diseased flocks. All things being equal, if you can find
the kind of stock you want, it is better to buy in your own
neighborhood where you can know just what the breeding stock
is. The idea that pure-bred stock cannot be raised satisfactor-
ily on the farm has long since been disproved. Pure-hbred
birds require no greater care, no better housing, and no more
feed than should be given to serub stock for best rsults. Good
stock will give better returns for the same care, and because
of the owner’s pride in them, the better breeds are more likely
to receive the attention which will give the most satisfactory

-

10 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

returns. It is folly to keep hens which lay only forty or fitty
eggs per year when reasonable prices will buy good stock that
will produce three or four times this number. Occasionally a
serub hen may be a good layer, but as a rule scrub chickens
are poor egg producers, and besides they have not the power
to transmit the heavy laying quality to their offspring.

No. 8. One of the egg and meat breeds, called American
breeds, such as the Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, or
Wyandottes, is usually to be preferred for farm conditions.
Strains of the American breeds have given as high egg yields
as the Leghorns, Minoreas, and other Mediterranean breeds,
and they furnish much better carcasses for the table or the
market, either as broilers or roasters. However, well-bred fowls
of the Mediteranean or English breeds are highly desirable.
It is important to secure a good strain of whatever breed you
choose, for there are great differences in strains of the same
breed. Some strains of Leghorns, for example, have averaged
over 200 eggs per year per hen, while other Leghorns will ave-
rage hardly half that yield. ;

No. 4. If a basket of eggs from a mixed flock is sent to
the market it will contain some white eggs, some brown, and
some cream colored. There is a great variety of sizes and
shapes. This lack of uniformity is unattractive and tends to
bring down the price. If the farmer had sent a basket of all
white eggs or all brown eggs of uniform size, he would have
received a better price for his product. To obtain these good
prices, the farmers should have but one breed of chickens on
his farm. Then he would have a flock in which he would
take much pride and give them good attention. The eggs pro-
duced from such birds would be all of the same color, size and
shape, and when marketed the customers would be better pleased,
since uniformity is usually much desired.

When any live or dressed poultry is to be sold, the market
shows a very great preference for a uniform product. A lot of
yellow skin birds or white skin birds is much more desirable
than is a mixture of both. In the marketing of live birds,
either young or old, a one-color lot causes the buyer to feel
that they must be raised by a person who takes good care of
his stock, and to pay for them accordingly. It is very easy

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 11

to feed and house a flock of one breed, as their needs and wants
are alike. To get the best results from a flock, the poultry-
man should study the needs and requirements of breeds. If
he has but one breed, his work in this respect is reduced to a
minimum. For the same reason, it is easy to rear and develop
chicks of one breed. In hatching, again excellent results are
obtained. The eggs not only hatch more uniformly, but bet-
ter and more vigorous chicks are produced, due to the excellent
care given the flock because the raiser of one breed naturally
takes a great interest in his stock.

No. 5. As long as farmers keep small flocks they will take
_ little interest in them, and the income from them will be very
small. From observations in different sections the rule seems
to be, the smaller the flock the less interest there is in poultry
and the more mixed and mongrel is the flock. Flocks smaller
than seventy-five are not considered as commercial enterprises,
or important enough to recelve proper care. With a flock of
one hundred hens the owner is likely to take care of them,
provide a comfortable, convenient house, feed and attend to
them properly and regularly, The returns from such a flock
will indeed be very profitable, the number of eggs will be
large and can be sold to appreciative buyers. The flock should
be pure-bred, because chickens, like all other forms of live-
stock, do best when properly and carefully bred. A pure-bred
flock of 150 good producers, properly handled, is worth more
to a farmer than five bales of cotton at ten cents per pound.

No. 6. The three common systems of poultry farming which
may be successful on a general farm or a poultry farm are:

The ‘‘Community’’ system, in which the birds are all housed
under one roof in large flocks. These houses are permanent
and usually of the long house type. This method is most econ-
omical of buildings and labor. The main disadvantage heing
the rapid spread of disease if once introduced.

“‘Semi-Community’’ is another system very similar to the
Community method, the birds being housed in somewhat
smaller houses grouped close together. More land and labor
are required but the congestion is relieved somewhat.

The ‘‘Colony’’ system is a method of dividing the birds into
small flocks of twenty or thirty and housing them in small

12 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

colony houses scattered about the farm. The birds have the
maximum amount of range and this method is very desirable
and can be used where orchards are available, locating the
houses through such orchards. The colony system necessitates
the greatest expense for housing and labor, usually gives good
results but not enough better to make up for the extra expense.

No. 7. If 100 or more eggs are to be hatched. during the
hatching season, then an incubator is desirable. Where 100
or more hens are kept it will usually be much more econom-
ical to hatch with an incubator rather than with setting hens.
In such a flock half the number should be renewed each year.
That means that 50 or more pullets should go into winter quar-
ters in the fall. To produce 50 or 75 pullets means the setting
of at least 300 eggs. If 60 per cent of these eggs hatch there
will be 180 chicks to start with and usually 75 per cent of
those, or 140, are reared to maturity. Of these 140; one-half,
or 70, are pullets and all these pullets will not be good ones.
So that ordinarily 300 eggs or more must be hatched. To
hatch these under hens would mean the services and care of a
great number of chickens, while two hatches in a 150 egg in-
cubator would care for-them easily.

When fowls are raised to be marketed alive as meat it is
desirable that they be hatched and reared in good sized flocks,
and at as near the same time as possible, thus minimizing the
eost of feed and labor. For this reason an incubator can be
used to advantage even though the flock is small.

No. 8. As soon as hatching is complete remove all un-
hatched eggs and egg shells. Leave chicks in the machine for
eighteen to forty-eight hours longer. Open ventilators to give
plenty of fresh air and lower temperature of incubator to 95
to 100 degrees F. This is to harden the chicks. When the
chicks are hatched they contain the yolk of the egg in their
body, which supplies them with food for from twelve to fifty-
two hours. For this reason no other food is necessary until
this food has been absorbed.

No. 9. (1) Provide fine grit, charcoal, shell and bone from
the start. (2) Give grass range or plenty of green food. (3)
Have fresh, clean water always available. (4) Feed only
sweet, wholesome foods. (5) Avoid damp and soiled litter.
(6) Disinfect brooders frequently. (7) Feed no spoiled meat

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 13

products. (8) Keep chicks active by allowing to become
hungry once daily. (9) Feed moist mash sparingly. (10)
Keep dry mash always before the chicks.

No. 10. Capons are castrated male birds. This operation con-
sists In removing the sex organs, and should be done when
the birds are eight to twelve weeks old. This operation is
performed for the same reason that we castrate pigs and calves.

No. 11. (1) Larger and heavier fowls at killing time. (2)
Sweeter meat of finer’ flavor. (3) A much higher selling
price. (4) A lower cost, due to ease of fattening. (5) <A
more docile disposition and better endurance of close confine-
ment. (6) Can be used when desirable for hovering young
chicks.

Nos. 12 and 13. (5) In the mild climate of Texas, elaborate
and expensive hen houses are not necessary. Almost every farm
has some unused building or shed that can easily be converted
into a very serviceable poultry house. A water-tight shed roof
with adequate wind-proof walls on the north, west, and east
sides is sufficient. A house 20 feet long by 14 feet wide, with

‘front wall 7 feet high and the rear wall 414 feet, will furnish
adequate room for a flock of 100 birds. Such a house is shown -
in Figures 1 and 2. Have the roof slope to the north and cover
the front or south side with chicken wire only. Place the
roosts at the rear, and have roosts and nests removable for
eleaning. Do not put one roost above another, as all the chick-
ens will want to crowd to the highest roosts. If the house is
built of very light material, in those sections of the state where

_ there is much stormy wind, it may sometimes be well to anchor

it to a few posts placed securely in the ground to prevent its
being blown over. Protection from the hot summer sun is as
important as protection from the cold winter winds. Plant
castor beans and sunflowers around the place for quick shade, and
fruit trees for permanent shade.

The floor should be raised at least six inches above the out-
side level, in order that it may remain dry in wet weather.
A conerete floor is best, but an earth floor may be used
by replacing the top two or three inches of soil once or
twice a year. If the location is low or flat, the house should
be filled in with earth to a depth of eight or more inches. It is

14 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

advisable to keep the floor of the house covered with cheap
hay, pine straw, leaves, or other litter into which the grain may
be thrown to keep the hens working. Never use mouldy ma-
terial for this purpose. The litter should be removed at least
once a month or oftener if badly mixed with droppings or
damp from continued wet weather.

Scattering acid phosphate over the litter and under the roost

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Figure No. 1.—The above house, 14x20 feet, will accommodate
100 hens. The nests shown are alike in both ends of the house.
More can be added if sixteen prove insu..cient. The concrete floor
is not necessary. but highly desirable. The front should face south.
The back and the west end should be boarded up. The east end
and front should be made of woven wire only, except in the very
cold sections of the state. For a flock of 30 to 45 fowls, the roosts
may be reduced to three and the size of the house to 10x12 or
12x12 feet. Dropping boards may be added if desired.

Figure No. 2.—Shows construction of front of poultry house.

twice a week will give splendid results in the way of deodoriz-
ing and keeping down mites, besides improving the value of the
manure for fertilizing. The same powder may be used under

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm : 15

the litter in the nest and likewise under the litter in the hovers
for baby chicks. Painting the roost with kerosene and crude
earbolic acid, especially at the points where they rest on the
supports, will aid in getting rid of mites where they are bad.

No. 14. Under ordinary farm conditions, in raising poultry
for home use, the cheapest thing to do is to fence the garden
and allow the chickens to run free. Hens on the open range
get most of their food in summer, and a good share of it in
winter. They are destroyers of farm insects and distributors of
fertilizer.

However, there are some disadvantages in having chickens —
run at large: (1) Chickens are scavengers, and privy vaults
and such filth should be screened from them if they run at
large. When free, they drink polluted water, and feed on dead
carcasses and other sources of filth, which not only lower their
physical vigor but often produce disease and death. (2) mise
they run at large, they are likely to roost in exposed places
and be injured by weather or predatory animals. When fowls
run free, they should be fed in the poultry house so that they
will make their residence there instead of around and in the
barn and dwelling house. (8) When chickens are at large
they are often injured by stock, especially by hogs. This is
largely due to the fact that many farmers feel that the chickens
should obtain all their own food. Feeding the chickens a little
both morning and evening eliminates this trouble somewhat
so that the chickens do not go to the hog pens or get in the
way of feeding sows. i

No. 15. (1) Breeding only from birds of vigorous consti-
tutions.

(2) <A system of poultry management which is thoroughly
hygienic: (a) Cleanliness of houses and yards. ()) Thorough
and frequent disinfection. (c) Plenty of fresh air and light
in the poultry houses. (d) Avoid dampness. (e) Provide
elean and dry litter. (f) Do not allow land to become con-
taminated. Rotate crops on land with poultry. (g) Burn all
dead birds at once. (h) Isolate all sick birds. (i) Keep
fowls free from lice, mites, and all external parasites.

(3) Hygienic feeding: (a) Feed pure feeds, avoid musty
and moldy grain, table scraps which have spoiled, decayed

16 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

fruits and vegetables. (b) Keep all utensils clean. (c) Avoid
overfeeding. (d) Provide plenty of green food. (e) Provide
fresh and clean drinking water. (f) Make fowls exercise for
food.

No. 16. Diseases are most commonly spread among fowls
in the following ways: (1) By introducing new birds from
unhealthy flocks. Sore head and insect pests are often started
in this way. (2) If the drinking pans and feed hoppers get
infected with contagion, the whole flock is exposed. (3) Rats
are carriers of disease and insects. . Beware of them. Often
the same is true of sparrows. (4) Careless management.
(5) By visiting infected flocks and poultry yards and then
going into your own without cleaning your clothing and shoes.

Prevention is the best cure. Disease always weakens vital-
ity. Birds that have once been sick are never desiralle breed-
ers. For this reason it is well to keep the watering pans and
feed hoppers clean at all times. Keep clean litter on the floors
and in the nests. Filth always harbors insects and disease.

Should disease break out among the chickens, separate those
that are sick. Burn the bodies of the dead ones. In bad cases
clean and disinfect the entire house, removing all straw from
nests and burning all refuse. Plenty of sunshine and ventila-
tion are of great importance. Disinfect with one part of erude
earbolic acid to three parts of kerosene oil. Other good dis-
infecting soultions are a fifty per cent solution of Zenoleum or
Kreso dip. Poultry houses and equipment should be regularly
and -thoroughly disinfected once each month throughout the
year. Scald the feed hoppers and water pans. First, give the
bird epsom salts, either in a moist mash or in drinking water,
and next day put a very small quantity of permanganate of
potash in the drinking water, just enough to turn it a light red
color. In this weak solution the permanganate of potash will
not hurt the chickens hut will destroy the germs. Give the
salts at rate of one-third teaspoonful to an adult chicken.

No. 17. Bluebugs, fleas, lice, and mites are the summer in-
sect pests. Sparrows often bring mites and lice. Bluebugs are
frequently introduced by fowls from other flocks. Before in-
troducing a new bird into your flock, if in a region where
fowl ticks, or bluebugs, are prevalent, quarantine the birds ten

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 17

days, as this procedure will practically free the bird of ticks
or bluebugs. The adult ticks feed on the bird only at night
time, so that during the day the birds are free from them. The
small seed ticks remain on the birds both day and night and so
gorge themselves that at the end of ten days they drop off and
are also matured then. Therefore, quarantining for ten days
practically frees the bird from all ticks. All new birds should
be thoroughly dusted with some good lice powder such as that
given below and thoroughly examined to be sure that they
are free from all external parasites.

Mites can be easily prevented |y the proper use of acid phos-
phate. For lice, grease very lightly the top of head and be-
neath the wings of the little ones, or dust with a small portion
of lice powder. A good cheap lice powder is made as follows:

1% pint crude carbolic acid, mixed with %4 pint of gasoline;
stir thoroughly into 2144 pounds of plaster of paris.

The whole is forced through a sieve to break the lumps and
then allowed to dry in the air. When dry it is tightly bottled
and will remain effective indefinitely. To apply this powder
the fowl is held by the legs with its head down. In this posi-
tion the feathers fall away from the body and readily receive
the powder, making it easy to work it down to the skin by
ruffling the feathers with the hand. This treatment is espe-
cially recommended for setting hens.

Mites suck the blood at night and return to the perches )e-
fore morning, remaining there during the day. The mite is
killed by a direct application of a burning solution. A solu-
tion of 14 pint crude carbolic acid and %4 pint of kerosene has
been found very destructive. It is sprayed all over the perches,
dropping board and different parts of the house.

For bluebugs, in extreme cases, dip the chickens in any good
sheep or hog dip, thoroughly clean out the house and nests
and spray the roosts, walls, floors, and nests with kerosene
and carbolic acid mixture. Be careful not to strangle chickens
with the dip. Hold their bills closed when their heads are im-
mersed.

No. 18. Ration for Baby Chicks: 8 pts. by weight, bread
crumbs; 8 pts. by weight, rolled oats; 2 pts. by weight, meat
scraps, sifted; 1 pt. by weight, bone meal. This mixture should

18 Bulletin of the Umversity of Texas

be moistened with sour skim milk or buttermilk and five times a
day during first five days, the chicks should be fed as much of it
as they will eat up clean in ten minutes. Fine charcoal and fine
chick grit, together with shredded green food, are sprinkled over
this mash. A little finely cracked wheat and finely cracked milo
or kafir may be fed lightly scattered through the litter.

Ration after First Week. 1 part wheat bran; 1 part wheat
short; 1 part milo meal; 1 part meat scraps. After
fifth day or first week feed this mash moistened with sour milk
or buttermilk three times a day. Also place it before cihcks dry
during the day. Feed grain as before, scattered through
litter. Feed this way for two weeks. After two weeks feed
same ration, only feed it moist once or twice a day and have it
dry always before them. Feed grain same as previously.

After chicks are 8 to 12 weeks old the wet mash may be
eliminated entirely and dry mash kept before them all the
time. A grain mixture of wheat and whole milo should also
be kept before them all the time in a self-feeding hopper.
Continue this method until matured. See question 9.

Figure No. 3.—Shows isometric view and end elevation of a use-
ful home-made hopper for dry feed, shell, and charcoal.

No. 19. In feeding for growth and egg production, a large
proportion of protein and mineral are required in the ration.
Such food as meat scraps, milk, and cottonseed meal are rich
in protein. In a properly made laying ration, the proportion
of protein to carbohydrates and fats should be as 1 is to 4 and

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm in,

6. Wheat and its products, especially bran, contain much more
protein than corn and the other grains. Corn, kaffir, milo,
and feteria are starchy foods and produce excessive fat when
fed in considerable quantities. For egg production, strengthen
the protein element and do not give too much of the starchy
fat-producing grains. Wheat bran is a desirable egg food.
There are many good feeding mixtures in use for laying hens.
The following is a very good ration: 50 lbs. wheat shorts;
70 Ibs. milo meal; 40 lbs. wheat bran; 40 lbs. meat scraps.
This is a dry mash and should be fed in a hopper available

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TEEDING OR WATERING DEVICE FEEDING Drvict

WATERING DEVICE

Figure No. 4.—The device at the left consists of a galvanized iron
soup plate into which an ordinary Mason fruit jar is screwed so that
the water or food in the jar constantly feeds down into the plate
as fast as it is used up. This plate costs about ten cents. The
other two devices are easily made at home and are very useful in
keeping the food and water clean.
to the birds all day. This is the egg producing part of the
ration. This should be supplemented by a grain ration com-
posed of a mixture of corn chops and. whole milo or whole milo
alone. In the above ration 80 lbs. of cottonseed meal may be
substituted for the 40 lbs. of meat scraps. When fowls are to
be fattened, restrict the exercise and feed the starchy foods.
Give them plenty of clean sour milk if it ean be had. Sour
milk makes the best meat food, induces egg production and
goes a long way toward keeping hens healthy.

A perfectly balanced all-purpose ration should include some
protein, some starch, some mineral and some green food. The.
green food is especially valuable as an appetizer and tonic.
Peanuts when chopped up, vine and all, make a very good ration.

In summer, when there is plenty of green food and insects on

20 Bulletin of the Unversity of Texas

the range, feed lightly with some form of grain in the morning
and evening, making the evening somewhat the heavier meal.
In winter it is always necessary to supply some green food.
This can be provided by alfalfa, rape, Swiss chard, or a small
patch of wheat or oats for winter chicken pasture. In sections
of the state in which there is no winter pasturing at all green
food in form of cabbage, beets, and sprouted oats may he
provided.

Exercise is also essential to laying. For this reason, it is
often well to scatter. grain in a small amount of liter on the
ground so the hens will be obliged to scratch for it.

For laying hens, it is well at all times to keep wheat bran,
or a dry mash of bran, corn meal, shorts, and cottonseed meal
where they can feed upon it at will. Also, gravel, crushed
oyster shells, ground bone, or crushed limestone and crushed
wood charcoal should be kept where they can he got at all
times. The gravels aid in grinding the solid food in the giz-
zards of the fowls and make digestion possible. The lime from
the oyster shells and other sources furnishes the substance for
the formation of the egg shell. The charcoal at times helps
digestion.

Do not neglect the water. Give your chickens plenty of clean,
fresh water three times a day In warm weather and twice a day
in cold weather. Wash the water pans every day and scald at
least once a week to kill bacteria and prevent disease.

No. 20. (a) If you have no poultry, or have only scrub
stock, get a start from high producing flocks by one of the
methods that have been suggetsed. There are fiocks of pure-
bred chickens that average over 200 eggs per hen per year.
There are flocks on Texas farms that average over twelve dozen
egos per hen per year. Scrub hens, as a rule, are not good
layers no matter how well they are fed and cared for.

(2) Give the ration that a laying hen needs. Good care and
geood stock must go together to get good results. See that your
hens are well sheltered, not too fat, and get plenty of exercise.
Then if your average egg production is not satisfactory, sepa-
rate those you think are not laying and see how many eggs you
get from them. If they prove to be poor layers kill or sell them.

(b) External characters to be considered in selecting laying

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 21

stock. The following features are associated with the possi-
bility of heavy production. Always keep in mind breed shape
or type: (1) Width of body—to allow ample room for the
digestive and reproductive organs. (2) Depth of body—for
same reason as No. 1. (3) A rather long body carried high
in front and low behind, with the large part of the body back
of the leg joint. (4) Neck medium in length and rather full
hackle. (5) ‘Tail carried rather high showing vigor. (6)
Head medium, comb and wattles large, and well colored. (7)
Body V-shaped when viewed from side, top, and rear. (8)
Close, compact feathering, and short, stout beak, with bright
eyes. (9) Legs rather short and wide spread. (10) Good size.
(c) Breeding for egg production: (1) Keep only pure-
bred birds. (2) Breed from heavy producers and consistent
layers. (3) Breed from mature ‘birds. (4) Practice line
breeding. (5) Breed from )irds that were early producers as
pullets. (6) Breed from late molters. (7) Breed from heavy
eaters. (8) Breed from early risers and late retirers. (9)
Practice proper management. (10) Breed from birds of high
constitutional vigor, which means health, activity and vitality.
For scientific purposes each hen is numbered by a leg band,
and the trap nest is used. These nests are so constructed
that when the hen enters the nest the door closes and she
ean not get out again until released by some person. By this
means poultry breeders are enabled to keep individual lay-
ing records and the full pedigree of their stock. Since these
nests require an attendant to release the birds at frequent in-
tervals, they are not desirable on the ordinary farm, but where
desirable are very valuable. |
_ If you wish a high average production, do not keep hens that
have grown too old to be useful. As hens grow old their lay-
ing ability decreases at the rate of about 25 per cent per year.
Ordinarily hens over two years old should not be kept. Hens
four years old are past their period of usefulness as layers.
Leg band the pullets this year on the right leg and next year
on the left and so on. By altering this way there will be no
difficulty in identifying the old birds.
No. 21. Hatch your layers in March-or April. If hatched
too early, they will molt in the fall and continue molting

22 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

through the winter, seriously hindering winter laying. Late
pullets, on the other hand, do not usually have the constitu-
tional vigor of early ones and hence do not lay so well through
the winter. Hatch from good layers only. Feed well when
young, provide good range, keep free of insects and protect
from too much hot sunshine. In winter, protect from cold and
rain, and feed as suegested in No. 19. |

No. 22. In this climate, during the hot summer months, eggs
should be gathered as soon after they are laid as possible and
kept in a cool place until used. Particularly is this true of fer-
- tile eggs. Ata temperature above 60 degrees, the chick germ
' In the fertile egg soon begins to develop and spoils the egg.
For this reason infertile eggs are preferable. This is espe-
clally necessary in warm weather.

Infertile eggs may be secured by keeping the male birds sep-
arate from the laying hens. This does not decrease the num-
ber of eggs produced, but the eggs produced then do not con-
tain a fertilized chick germ, and hence keep better. These
egos, of course, cannot be used for hatching.

No. 28. (1) The condition of the interior of an egg can be
determined by holding it near a flame or a bright light directly
in front of the eye. A fresh egg will have a very light-colored,
indistinct yolk when examined in this way. Eggs that show
blood rings or other discolorations either contain partially de-
veloped embryos or are otherwise spoiled.

(2) An egg-tester can be made in an inexpensive way by
placing a kerosene lamp inside of a shoe box stood on end,
with a hole somewhat smaller than an egg cut in what was the
bottom of the box, but is now the side, directly opposite the
flame, and with a hole cut in the end above the top of the
lamp for ventilation. Place the egg against the opening in the
side, and the illumination from the lamp within will show
whether the egg is in proper condition. Only by testing, or
candling each egg can you guarantee your eggs to be in prime
condition. Hotels, restaurants, grocers, and private homes will
pay top prices for such eggs. (See figure 5.)

(The teacher should have some boy or girl make an egg-
tester and bring it to school with a dozen eggs for experimen-
tation next week. Have on hand a number of fertile and in-

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 23

fertile eggs. If possible, set some eggs for a few days betore
and have on hand some that have been incubated one day.
three days, five days, and seven days. This will very strikingly
demonstrate why infertile eggs are preferable. After showing
the egg before the candle, break it into a saucer for further

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Figure 5.—The above tester is made easily from an old cardboard
shoe box by cutting one hole in the side or bottom of the box large
enough to admit an egg but not let it pass through, and cutting
another hole in the end of the box to allow the lamp or candle to

burn freely.
study. Also ask those present to state other methods that they
use for testing eggs. There are many others.)

No. 24. One of the best methods of preserving eggs on a small
scale is in sodium silicate, or water glass, which can be pur-
chased at almost any drug store for one dollar per gallon.
Dissolve one quart of water glass in ten quarts of water that has
been boiled and cooled. Mix very thoroughly and pour the

24 Bulletin of the University of Texas

solution into.a sterilized stone jar. Put in this jar none but
infertile, naturally clean, fresh, uncracked eggs. If one egg
should be bad, it will spoil all the rest. Cover the jar and keep
it in a dark, cool place, preferably in the storm cellar, if you
have one. The temperature should never be higher than sixty
degrees. As the water in the jar evaporates, replace it by |
more cool water that has been boiled. Always keep the liquid
two inches above the last row of eggs. Unless this is done
properly and the eggs and glass are kept cool the results will
not be satisfactory. The taste in this case is slightly affected
but not enough to prevent the use of the eggs on the table.
Eggs may be kept several weeks or even months by packing
them down when perfectly fresh in clean, dry salt and setting
in a cool place.

No. 25. (1) Immature or extremely aged breeding stock,
the former being the more common cause. (2) Insufficient
time between mating and saving of eggs for hatching. (3)
Weakened vitality of the breeding stock. (4) Excessively fat
breeders. (5) Insufficient exercise. (6) Lack of green food.
(7) Lack of sufficient animal protein. (8) Excess of females
to one male. (9) Unsuitable environment.

Selecting eges for hatching: (1) Sort eggs immediately
after collecting. (2) Select eggs uniform in type, shade, size,
and color; discarding all that are cracked, extremely dirty,
badly shaped, or that have a rough, thin, or irregular shell.
(3) Extremely small or exceptionally large eggs should not
be used.

No. 26. (1) Cull the growing stock. (2) House the lay-
ing stock properly. (8) Provide plenty of clean nests. (4)
Feed properly. (5) Gather the eggs regularly. (6) Clean all
dirty eggs at once. (7) Dispose of cracked and broken eggs
quickly. (8) Keep the eggs in a cool and rather moist place.
(9) Build a private trade. (10) Pack eggs carefully. (11)
Have regular customers. (12) Sell regularly. (13) Candle
all eggs before marketing. (14) Separate males after the
breeding season. (15) Continually plan to improve your
market.

Discussion of Poultry on the Farm 25

For fuller information on poultry, consult the following bulletins,
which may be had free on request from the U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D. C.:

OuiEey MATA SCMLEIIE dione). '%: 6 laideicnaeuetesereue,'s Farmers’ Bulletin No. 287
EO staat EC ATL IR Oe acs oe asa ervey 2) Sea atc so ces 3 a a NOw) Ze"
Standard Varieties of ChickenS) 0. ...: mS sf Nori ou:
Say POWER eis see ees oe cake ene aia Gas re oy No. 305
Method of Feeding Poultry............ °F * No. 244
Animal Matter a Necessity for Poultry. . oh ‘ Now 39g.
Mineral Matter for Chickens.......... of ay No. 229
Ground Grain vs. Whole Grain for

COCKE Sa ys TE te tad Seat eke tee % a No. 94
Skim Milk for Young Chickens........ iw ar No. 84
Water. Pans tor: Mowls ci. 2s) tele oo er . No. 317
The Gape Disease of Chickens......... es sé No.
Construction and Ventilation of Poultry

TIO TIS (Ans PROPEL eS eRe Ce LAMP Ag Be ee ees “s Now 227
The Number of Laying Hens That May

Be Profitably Kept in the Pen....... * No. 114
Roostine Closet, for. Poultry. ....0.... 55 ar rd No. 499
A Successful Brooder House........... a 5 No. 225
Producing Early Molting Hens........ oh < No. 186
ORCC ANTON EINES. By sks eeheye Sey s Osu peek « oe ef No. 412
PMO MUG MEME NETS 6. cafes ela bia cued lee enane. 6 us rs No. 190
Keeping Poultry Free from Lice....... oe a No. 4385
iMmeubator-and- Incubators. 2... 2.2 and. = a No. 236
Natural and Artificial Incubation for

CITC SGI EGS Re a Oe ae Ae ers On arate eae Xs a No. 585
Causes of Death of Young Chicks...... s ee INoOs) 3.019
PVE EeShA Im BMOOMER 2 4. ky se 2 eae a * No. 499
RaAOusiton Leayinev Evenson 2 lea ion Me “ No. 186
linesManrketine Of-Wees.. 465 6.6 bee of a No. 405
Selma MASS Toye Wels ons ke wa. oe ete ae $8 st No. 122
Coston Heesuim NVIMNter so. oo eee Oe $ No. 190
PECSErVAtlOMs OLWMES Se o.k oo: Sis a sieheicre ee, ease M7 i No. 353
Preserving Hggs in Waterglass......... ui “fe No. 296
JS LEMME COU EL) ED atea SU Se gn Ra tee OD ee A a No. 251
Kertiiitiy and, Hatching of Heese oy so... te ae No. 405
ow ltimyar Waterers aoa ek re NE r * No. 384
Marketing Eggs Through the Creamery. i ce No. 445
Shipping Eggs by Parcels Post........ ec on No. 594
Poultry Elouse ‘Construction. .......-.). rs ne No. 574
Important Poultry Diseases.......... ye A ae No. 530
Pipe EV OMW) lhe del GIs auras) gi siraustiothars a tat Guehia Bligh theta Ree Ey No. 170

Natural and Artificial Incubation of Hens
ENGR NCE Ae eee aya oon msgs § ‘s “ No. 585

26 Bulletin of the Unwersity of Texas

Hints “to Poultry, -Raisersicc.s ais oo steko a te if if No. 528
The Community Hee Circle. fee cee a 53 No. 656
A System of Poultry Accounting, Bureau of Animal Industry Cir. 176
Mites and Lice on Poultry.........'. Bureau of Entomology Cir. 92

Suggestions on Poultry Raising for the Southern Farmer (Special)

OTHER BULLETINS

Increasing the Winter Yield of Eggs, Bulletin No. 219, Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pa.

Feeding and Management of Poultry for Egg Production, Bulletin
No. 211, A. and M. College, West Raleigh, N. C.

Poultry Experiments, West Virginia Bulletin No. 115, Ag. Exper.
Sta., Morgantown, W. Vo.

Extension Bulletin No. 10, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.
_ Constitutional Vigor, Cornell University Bulletin, 345 and 318,
Ithica, N. Y.

The Interior Quality of Market Eggs, Cornell University Bulletin
Boe Lehica iN, Y.

Essentials of Profitable Egg Production, New Jersey Bulletin No.
244, New Brunskick, N. J.

Diversified Poultry Farming, Circular No. 32, Ag. Exper. Sta.,
New Brunskick, N. J.

Common Diseases of Poultry, North Carolina A. and M. College,
No. 233, W. Raleigh, N. C.

The Farm Poultry Breeding Flock, Iowa Extension Bulletin No.
19, A. and M. College, Ames, Iowa.

Write Professor T. J. Conway of the A. and M. College, College
Station, Texas, or Professor Kazmeier, Department of Extension, The
A. and M. College, College Station, Texas, for other bulletins and for
expert advice on anything pertaining to poultry raising.

Cut off along this line.

REPORT OF SCHOOLHOUSE MEETING

(Send this report, immediately after the meeting, to A. Caswell
Ellis, Director of Extension, the University of Texas, Austin,
Texas, and the programs and questions for the following meeting’
will be sent to you by return mail. Nothing further will be sent
until the report is received.) |

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. Postoffice Address of Secretary of Meeting,

INemier Or SeMOOl rn ee cue County... as ee cs
Gi ela Om SEM OOL ise. io a eee
ostomeces “Address of Principal, 00 30 ee aes
Name of Chairman of BMeeene 3. a ae Se
Postoffice Address of Chairman of Meehinag: cr ward wen :

Namieon, Secretary, of (Meetime 200 ee

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Datesot Meetime.. ici a yee a ee ee |
SHUNeeh Ob. WO ISCUSSION: Ae eee Me. eon eee
Number present: Women. Mite rian.) Sse eats
Probable number that will attend next MeetIN Ge ree

Comments and Suggestions: (Was there much discus-
Was the meeting helpful? Will any practical movement

or organization come from it? Do any wish to study the matter
further? Can we help in any way?)

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