The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-09-02
Fresh Eggs the Year Round.

u nv" bFsb llII Will uDt lay we'll
neither will an ill-lcd or disturbed fowl
Large collections in one body are there.
| fore usuallya loss to the owner. So are
neglected hens which are left to seek thei1
| subsistence as best they may. 1t is only
| when they have the range Of the summer
fields that they will lay; hence hens will
| do better in the summer The hen loves
freedom, contentmcnt. When happy it
will lay, otherwise not, or not satisfactorily.
| Let us give one out of many cases which
establishes the rulc-Shall we not say
establishes the fact without exceptions ;
| With fair breed we think we are safe to
| say this; with a choice breed still better,
and always safe with good profits Delos
NJ. Avery is farmer in small way, re
siding in Salisbury, n. Y. This, we be
lievc, is his third year of farming. Want
ing eggs for his family, consisting of
himself and wife, he purchased twelve
hens of his next neighbor. They were
taken at random out Of flock of thirty or
| forty, which were left in the old-fashioned
way, having the range of the premises.
The twelve purchased were the common
| breed with some slight mixture. A couple
showed Brahma pretty plainly They
were given for theiIrange the barn, barn
yard, fenced with Ugh pickcts, and a
shed attached, with stairway I'D the
shed, where floor was laid for their CON
veniencc. Here were fecd-troughs, places
to rest and to lay, all of plain. TEN
porary kind, requiring but few hours
to secure. There were, however, plen-
ty of room, plenty of air and plenty
OF light. Below, under the shed, which
was open to the south, was bare ground
accessible all winter There was nothing
to disturb them in these quarters. They
were quiet and happy and socially dis
posed This by being frequently visited
and kindly treated. They were let out
oncea day toward evening for change and
to pick at the grass. This was treat that
they seemed to enjoy. They kept well to-
gethcr in their short forays; and when the
time came for returning quietly submitted
to be driven like contented sheep to their
quarters, knowing well their place of en-
trance, where each waited till its TURF
came. 1t was a docile, happy little fami-
ly, " a real comfort to have them" as was
expressed. A record of their cost and in
come was kept, beginning Jan. % and ex-
tending t. June 10, the time of the writer's
visit. The feed was wheat screenings and
corn, fed separately, each alternately one
month, that is, month screenings and
month corn, giving all they would eat.
The cost for the time was S5.61. All the
eggs that were wanted were used-the
usual quantity-the rest, twenty-seven and
a half dozen, sold at an average of twenty
four cents for twelve, leaving surplus of
nlnety-nlne cents over cost. This, of
course, is small margin of profit. 1t was
not intended for profit. Eggs were want
ed for family use without the trouble of
going to the neighbors' or to market
for them; but most and all-important to
have fresh eggs, and the twelve hens SIM
piled them. 1t was found they furnished
as many eggs as the entire number from
which the twelve were taken. Now the
lesson here is that anyone may go and do
likewise and without risk, for here were
the common hens, with simply casting the
feed before them and giving them room
and no trespassing. With good breed
here would have been a profitable invest
ment. In any case there are good fresh
eggs the year round ready at hand When
hen is disposed to hatch Mr. A. is hard
hearted enough to shut it up without food
for three days. This, he says, is a certain
cure, which l believe-IndiaRa Farmer.