Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-28
Che farmer.
To have Eggs in Winter.

The question is often asked "Why can
mot hens be made to lay as well in win
ter as in SUMMER" They can to GER
tain extent; but they require as con-
dition, that they be well provided with warm
and comfortable lodging, clean apartments,
plenty of food, pure water, gravel, lime, fine
sand, and ashes, to roll and battle in.
There seem naturally to be two seasons of
the year when hens lay; early in the spring,
and afterwards, in summer; indicating that
if fowls were left to themselves, they would,
like wild birds, produce two broods in
year.
Early spring Matched birds if kept in
warm place and fed plentifully and at
tended to-, will generally commence laying
about Christmas, Or even somewhat earlier.
In cold and damp, this is not to be expected
and much may, in different seasons, depend
on the state OF the weather and the condition
of the bird.
1t isa we'll known fact, thatfrom Novem-
ito February 1.-THE very time when we want
eggs the mosA they are to many bill of ex-
pcnse, without any profit TO promote fe-
cundity and great laying in the hen, it
necessary that they be well fed on grain,
boiled potatoes given to them warm and &C.
casionally ANIMAL food. In the summer
they get tker supply of animal food in the
form Of worms and insects, when suffered to
run at large, unless their number is so great
as to consume beyond the supply in their
rowing distance. / found it advantageous,
in the summer, toapen the gates, occasional
ly, and give the fowls run In the garden
and in thefeld adjoining their yard, for a few
hours in the day, when grasshoppers and 9TH
er insects were plenty. i had two objects
in view zone to benefit the fowls and the 9TH
or to destroy the insects. 1t will be found
that the fecundity of the hen will be increased
or diminished, according to the supply in an
animal food furnished
Hens moult and cast their feathers once
every year, generally. commencing in August
and continuing until late in November 1t is
the approach, the duration and the conse-
quence of this, which puts a stop to their
laying. 1t is critical time for all birds.
All the period while it lasts, even to the
time that the last feathers are replaced by
new ones, till these are full grown, the vast
ing Of the Hutritiye juices, prepared from
the blood for the very purpose of promoting
this growth, is considerable; and hence it is
mo, wonder there should not remain enough
in the body of the hen to cause her egg to
grow.
Old hens cannot always be depended on
for eggs in winter, they scarcely being in
full feather before the last of December ;
and then, probably, may not begin to lay till
March or April, producing not more than
twenty~or thirty eggs; and this is probably
'the cause of the disappointment of those
who have supplied themselves at the markets
with their stock to commence with, and get
few or no eggs. As pullets do not moult the
first year they commence laying tefore the
older hers, and by.attending to the period Of
ahatching, eggs may be produced during the
year. IAN early brood of chickens, there.
fore, by being carefully sheltered from the
ccold and wet, and fed once a day on boiled
potatoes, warm, with plenty of grain, and oc.
casionally a little animal food, will begin tc
lay in the fall or early in thewinter.