Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-06-11
agricultural



doing Cor lack of proper statistics" we
propose to give our experience in this
line.
Commence keeping hens in the fall,
with six "galline' of various ages-from
the thoughtless, inexperienced pnllet. to
the ex mother Of large and interesting
Notwithstanding several of poetic
temperament, who had been celebrated
for their numerous "lays, last lays
they proved to be, however, in TINS case
Put them in warm, clean pen, gave
them plenty of food and drink, and
waited patiently for hen fruit, but none
appeared. Consulted the Poultry Book,
which said "give hens ashes" Gave
them ashes. Hens must have lime, said
Poultry Book. Bought cask, but hens
wouldn't Law, though they showed some
{ ndency to Ice when the lime was thrown
into the pen. Hens must have plenty
of gravel. i" said the 2. d. so got them
load, but no eggs. Clear, fresh water
is indispensable. if you would have your
hens lay, said the T. B.; so gave them
water-a pailful three times a day, but
they didn't lay. me at is necessary for
hens, said 2. B. so gave them whole
.'critter," but they didn't lay-and threw
the Poultry Book away in disgust. About
this time an old lady told me | fought to
get a rooster" Good, wondered hadn't
thought Of that before. 'Rah for old lady
Bought buzzum companion TO share
their Joys and sorrows, but no "aigs"
resulted Was told to give them oats.
Gave them oats. Another said. barley is
best for hens" Gave them barley. Wheat
screenings were recommended. Got a
buShel-and hired a man six months the
next summer to get the weeds out of my
garden. in consequence-but The hens
dida't lay. Somebody said, give them
warm water" Gave EN- hot water
bilin' hot but they wouldn't lay boiled
eggs. nor any others. Give them sour
milk said one; 80 gave them some.
Cayenne pepper will make hens lay
said the newspaper; 50 bought pound
and gave it clear, but no eggs. Cheese
curd" was prescribed; hens got outside OF
il in hurry, but refused to discount after
ward. Neighbors said, keep my "hens
too fat TO lay" So shut down on my feed
for month, but they didn't lay. Moth
ing like fresh fish 10 make hens lay, said
friend; SO invested in fish results
similar 70 previous experiments. News
papers said. Hens should be provided
with suitable boxes TO lay in" 50 provided
all sorts of boxes, from dry goods case
10 nv wife's workbox, hut hens had no
use for them. Ia, scraps" were recon-
mended; so tried fat Scrap>-fnally be-
came discouraged and decided TO pass"
on the hen Gue>tion-when il was Sug-
gested tina, my hens combs were pale
"layiug hens have red comaS = 80 bought
half pound of ,ermilion, and painted
their combs, bat il soon came Of again.
Determined not to be defeated, lowered
their combs with red hann,l ard >ewed
il on. but itmade no porccpri5!e difference
in the eggs.
Finally. about the last Of February,
there was a tremendous racket in the hen
house,-hens csckled ike "all possessed, .
ditto. gentleman hen. Felt encouraged
tha, they were about - lay, (wi.h one
exception of course bat after they hid
KEEP, up that sort of thing about thee
weeks, With no results, concluded there
WAS nothing in it.
Happening in the hen pen one day abou,
the middle of Mare, l at once per
ceived that some,hin- unusual had &C.
CURED. The racket I'D ceased, and the
hens were quietly brooding or walking
about on tiptoc Chanticlecr was very
proud and conscious. hut was making a
great effort not to show IT, The pulletS
looked very pert and knowing rs if they
wanted TO giggle; the old hens were tip
toelng il about much after the fashion OF
a collection of old ladies at 4 certain kind
of family party and looking as if they
knew more than they cared TO tell while
"biddy,@ very weak and overcome, but Sc
renely conscious, very placid and happy.
and Ion the whole. As well as could be
expected" and near by, the cause Of this
deep-felt commotion, aH egg' My heart
swelled within me my anticipations were
about realized. Visions OF cuSlardS, ON
elets, pancakes, lam and heggS," &c,
ct cetera, floated through my brain, and
the acme Of success seemed about reach
ed. Seventeen tins, day Tor the next
fortnight did visit the hen pen ; but alas.
the spell was broken-a plaguy short spell
it was 10. No more eggs appeared, dur
ing the time. they event through the mo-
tons every day, till early in April, when
they laid one more. and that was the last
of the eggs; for, being anxious by some
means to make them useful, tried am-
putating their tails, just back oftheir ears
which resulted in a separation Of the ear
otid artery and jugular vein, stoppage Of,
the heart, and consequent; loss of muscu-
lar energy, aSphyxia, and general demon
alizstion of the system. | conquered at
last. for though it was all the laying
could make them do, they would lie still.
On figuring up profit aud loss account.
was surprised to see it exactly balance,