Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-12-03
Hen HushandrN.

| have at different times reported for the
Country Gentleman success with hens
this with small communities As the mum
Der Of hens increased, there was less proht.
| cannot recall a single instance where this
has not been the case. The principle, how
ever is clear, AMI there need but advantage
be taken Of it to make the keeping OF
large number Of heus-any number-as
safe and profitable as a small number.
A hen is domestic in its nature, as is the
COW or the sheep, and this principle must
be respected To outrage or disregard 1t
is to suffer the consequence II is maxim
that ga happy hen is laying hem Keep
yonr hen in fear, or in strange place, or
abuse it. aud it will not feel disposed to
rear its progeny under such conditions.
| Hence it will lay little or none; this is the
tendency-in some breeds less, in some
more.
But make your hen comfortable-make a
home for it-ntisfy IT, aud it will conceive
thoughts Of maternity, and 60 about it.
With quiet place Of retreat to 60 to, it
will begin its work IT. few hens are put
together say twelve or dlteen-they will
be o little family among themselves, on
intimate footing, yet having, like other
families their little quarrels, which give
piquancy to their otherwise tame lives.
1t is these small domestic groups that
are the successful egg.produccrs. They
Ned but be repeated, group added toI
group, with partition between, so that each
is distinct. in no way connected, as though
but one existed Thus you have the prin.
ciple Of the one in all. You can increase
the number of communities at will. Each
is by itself. and conten,ed. There is peace
aud prosperity. But remove the partitions,
and Babel is the result There will be q
strangcness introduced, and fear and inso-
curity with it, that will be fatal to domes-
ITCHY, and check the maternal desire.
And though time be given it, the foreign
cast will never be dispelled from so large a
number; the thought Of insecurity will al
ways accompany, especially with the more
timid. This hold, is the secret Of the
poor success with large communities.
Where this Babel is in daily process,
there is no peace there is no place consid-
cred safe to retire to for purposes Of pro-
pagation--no rearing Of young in such
multitude there is the strife and hurry to
get food constant unrest, strangeness; il
is never home here and hence the duties OF
uome are not performed But draw the
partitions, and you cut off all this. There
will be peace at once ; acquaintance viii
follow, and confidence be restored. Yet it
is better, or at least it is successful and Sc
cure to begin on a small scale, rearing your
own fowls. They will then be indeed a
family, or as many families as you wish,
But let each be community by itself sur.
round yourself with these little ncighbor-
hoods in juxtapostion, all on the same safe
principle Of the one. 1t is with this as
with any other business start Alright, and
continue as you start Your accumulatiug
profits will enable you to do this, extend.
ing more aud more as your net income en-
larges But keep true TO the first princi-
pies, or if new ones are introduced let II
be done, as in the first case, with care, and
on a small scale, and if found to succeed
enlarge as before.
The law of kindness holds good here a,
elsewhere. Secure a good breed FeeC
well with what is known to be proper food
do not over-feed but feed regularly. TIL,
different grains are all good, particular
corn and buckwbeat. Vegetables are CRATE
ful, and little animal food seems to be O
help. Pure water is Of course good for a
hen, as for all animals. Clean quarters
the same, and comfort all round. Keep the
young fowl growing, without interruption
all it will bear, from the chick to the ma
ture pullet. 1t will be the larger and thC
better for it, and will lay sooner, and young
hens are the best for laying. Never over
feed, as it begots plethora or apoplexy.-
Keep in good flesh and in good health fol
laying. In winter it is best, at least fol
some sorts, to have warm quarters-thi
more particularly with the French breeds
good cross is as good as single blood
but all crosses are not equally good-th'
pure bloods are the safest. Get these, an,
abide by them, getting fresh iniusions o
the same strain from abroad-this through
the male. In this way bookkeeping 70
eggs can be made safe and profitable, anc
| think on any scale as to numbers in thu
opgregatp Il e. in COUufrU Gentleman