Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-02-20
all0 goIle5tlr:
u =, Aupsn THE FARMERS.

HENS AA0N1 THE FARiM tdt
Few peonIe are aware Of the value OF
the poultry crop OF the country, we nave
no official statistics to show what 1t rs
worth. but we have taken some pains 10
arrive. alta good guess. by careful ooser7
vaiun. c mparlSon and esumsuon uu'lns
he past season. We have actual reports
from several shipping points in Ohio. sad
ier Tie rest will give the re uIt OF our
cackle ations, based upon the actual ana
possibl. WELD of hens. as they are and
oan be kept under ordinary circumstan'
ces by farmers.
Suppose every farmer to keep ten hens
a low enthusiastically ten cents each,
at home. II these are good, well>ored
sort Of hens. as they should be, they will
each Law four dozen eggs in year. be-
sides "A d. zen or fifteen in early Spring,
from which they should raise ten chick
en-. Zone of LUIS common hens has
raised twenty chickens, at two settings.
and will still ~ axe out her four dozen OF
eggs in the season. Then we have one
mans hen cror, thus:
Ohens, worth ut home 10 cts ca. S 90
10 chickens from each, at l0cts. 1000
4 dnz. e"ps. zach 10 cents, 400
Total. $500
D.duct fur fed and expenses, 500
Ne,pro6t. $1,000
az una dollar from each hen. At the
above rates there is sufficient margin for
the cost OF marketing. as We pay on an
average fifteen cents for chickens and If
teen cents per dozen for eggs, in our city
market. Now re pay twenty or twenty
avs cents tor eggs. and eighteen for
chi.krns
There are in Ohio, say 10000 occupi.
ed farms. Then there are great many
mechanics aud people in. towns. villages
and cities, ~ho have fair showing OF
lens, enough to make up at very low
estimate, 900 QUO families. Give TO each
a profit of ten dollars in hens, and you
have tie sum Of 1000 900 as the pro-
ceeds of the hen crop alone. which is one>
third the assessed value Of all the sheep
in Ohio, aud one-haIf the assessed value
ii all the hogs--though the assessed value
1T hogs is not One-hnlf the real value Of
these animals. Do you call this count.
ing chickens before they are Matched :?
Not vt all. We have left too much mar
gin. for the hens upon the farm need not
rost five dollars a year Tor keeping they
will almost pick up their living the year
round, of insects. worms. waste grains
among the cattle. elc. Now, add TO the
hens all the geese. ducks and other do
mcstic birds. and the poultry crop Of the
country assumes All Importance worthy
ri ranking it in the list Of the properties
e.! the State.
As pertinent upon this subject now, We
wish 10 say few words upon
THE CARE OF HENS IN WINTER.
Farmers having dozen or twenty
t"~ls. do not generally have separate
establishment tor them. but give them the
liberty of the barn yards. This is more
for their health than where they are con-
iinrd TO small heneiies, and enables them
- pick up most Of their living. lfleft TO
themselves, hens will usually chose out
= roosting place fer themselves in trees,
out of the reach Of poslcatS and other tiers
restrial poachers. subject only to the de-
predations OF owls. This is we'll enough
III warm weather. when the trees are cows
ed with leaves bu: when the habit is
established. the hens do not often quit
their airy perch ut The approach Of Win
ter. and the consequence is that they get
their combs and toes frosted, and lay no
eggs during the cold weather. The bet>
ter way is to have perch in a sheltered
place and teach the hens to resort to it
early insthe Fall. If not all the year.
THE FEED IN WINTER.
Should be-besides the grains and
seeds which the hens pick up-a frequent
iuneh, OF lean boiled meat. cut small, or
boiled and mashed potatoes sunfower
seeds are also excellent winter feed !;
shese will tend to keep the hens in laying
order except in the very coolest weather.
They should have access to water and q
bed of sand and ashes, with Eits OF lime
and burnt bone at all times. Some peo-
Pile advise to keep hens in warm cellar
during Winter. to secure plenty of eggs.
We tiled it faithfully ore winter and came
to the conclusion that it did not pay.
Ohio CultiVQtor.