Nebraska advertiser., 1860-11-29
NO 21



In reference TO the inquiry "How IS
my wife going 10 gel eggs enough TO set
lie my coffee z" We will state that sew
eral means have been attempted to arouse
hens rom their torpidity, when they cease
the natural period Of the year 10 lay, in
as much as il seems very hard 70 pass
through the win.er without the luxury Of
eating new-laid eggs; and hence the in-
porlance Of the question "Fow IS nv
wife going 70 get eggs enough this winter
to settle my coffee 81 Now, the most
practical mode that occurs 10 the writer
would be to procure early spring matched
chickens-the Asiatic breeds are gener-
ally the best winter layers-and keep
them in warm dry place. and if FED
plentifully and attended 70, they Will
generally commence laying about The
first Of November, someumes earlier
In cold, and damp, this is not to Sc ex
pected, and much may 10 different sea-
sons depend on the state Of the weather
and the condition Of The birds. a poor
half starved hen cannot be expected 10
lay eggs.
There seem naturally two seas6Ss Of
the year when hens lay-early 10 spring
and afterward in summer-indicating
that if fowls we're left to themselves they
would, like wild birds, produce two
broods ips year. A wild hen viii lay
no more eggs than she can conveniently
cover, and her periods for laying and in-
eubatien viii be fixed and regular. Not
50 with the domestic hen, for some lay
every day, or every other day for nine
months out Of the twelve, and some vari-
eties evinee a desire TO sit; while others
manifest this desire, some at one period,
and others at another period. Among a
flock Of hens, these diversiiies wili show
themselves. and advantage may be taken
of them with benefit to their owner. But
they require as a condition, that they be
well provided with warm, dry, comfort
able lodging, clean apartments, plenty of
food, such as boiled potatoes, mashed
and given to them SDarm, corn, barley,
buckwheat, oats, and occasionally animal
food In summer, they get their s5pply
in the form Of worms aud insects. when
suffered to run at large. Il viii be found
that the fecundity of the hen will be in-
creased according 10 the supply Of animal
food furnished.
Il is well known that hens are modest
birds, and seek privacy while the synp-
toms Of approaching egg-labor are strong
upon them. It is thought By many that
the production Of eggs is like the yield
ing Of milk in cow, somewhat under
the control Of the creature B so il becomes
US to add every inducement to stimulate
the instincts Of nature; and coax fowl to
prolificacy by consulting their tastes and
whims by making their nests as secret as
possible,
Hens moult and cast their feathers
once every year, generally commencing
in August, and continuing until Nogem-
Der, and in some cases still later. II is
the approach, the duration, and the con-
sequences Of this period which puts q stop
TO their laying. All the period while It
lasts, the wasting Of the n6tritive juices
prepared for the blood. for promoting the
growth of the feathers is considerable,
and. hence il Is no wonder there should
not remain substance enough in the body
Of the hendo cause her egg to grow. Old
hens, therefore, cannot always be depen-
ded on for eggs in winter, they scarcely
being In full feather before the middle Of
December; and they probably may not
begin 70 lay till March or April. iaI
AS pullets do not moult the first year,
they commence laying before the older
hens, and by attending 10 the period Of
Matching, eggs may be produced during
the year. An early brood Of chickens.
therefore, by being casefully sheltered
from cold and wet, will begin TO lay in the
fall or early winter.
An ordinary breed Of hens. well hous-
ed, well fed and well cared for, viii be Of
more profit to their owners than Ike
number Of neglected half-starVed biddies
who may come of the best laying tribe.
We have been abundantly supplied
with fresh eggs, 10 winter, % settle cur
cOfee, from the African Bantam hens.
when managed in accordance with what
we have recommended. We want to be
told how TO makehens layfor everlasting.
c. n. BEAENT.