Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-11
NO. 2l5
ABOUT MOULTING.

The natural season for all bipeds of the
feathered race to commence their yearly
moult Is about the middle Of August. All
the birds OF the air are moulting at this
season. and it is the most delicate, trying
and dangerous period of their whole ex.
istence-tryiDg to their constitution and
system, reducing the strength and appe-
tite, and draining the very vitals to sup
port this new growth of feathers. The
birds pass into sleepy, dreamy state and
roost idly about, little needing their sur
roundings. From the first to the middle
OF August, and SO on until their annual
migration. our birds change their coats.
The breast feathers usually drop first. then
the body sheds, and one by one the quilts
| come out of the wings and tail, and leaves
the birds nearly powerless to escape when
suddenly surprised. They seek at this
| time shady and secluded retreats, where
they hide from their enemies and doze
| away, that stage of their disgrace requir-
| ing or craving but small amount of food.
The period with them lasts but few days
after which they come forth newly fiedged
aud bright, and seek their mates, forming
in f1ocks preparatory to their southern
journey. After this stage of helplessness
| which is rapid passage from the old TO
the newly feathered, they iatten and gorge
themselves on the ripened berries and
| seeds. each according to nature, and be-
come game for the idle sportsmen. Not
so with our domestic birds. 1t is usually
a long protracted seige with some, more
| especially with hens Of the non-setting va
riety that have been great layers. The
| most comfortable manner In which they
can moult and not feel it to any extent, 10
to drop one feather at time, which is re-
placed by new one directly, that grows
| rapidly, ripens before any more are de-
tached from the body. Thus Is the birds
strength kept up, the appetite continues
| good, and the hen will generally lay all
through this period if well fed, and the
| change is so steady and gradual that she
loses little flesh. But this Is seldom the
| case. Otener the whole coat of old feath-
ers are out at once, before the new ones
| are fairly formed beneath the skin. The
bird feels the sudden change severely.
particularly if the nights are chilly, which
at this season is often the case, or If the
moult has been tardy in appearing. This
| occurs often with hens that have been
great layers through the preceding
months. Cocks seldom suffer during the
moult, as it comes on them gradually. and
there has been no previous drain on the
system.
Hens should be we'll fed and pampered
at this time, and the growth of feathers
hastened as much as possible. A slow.
moulting hen is of little value. Their
feed should be largely of buckwheat and
meal spiced with red pepper, or, what is
better, good fresh ginger The drug
called cayenne pepper, that is sold at the
stores. consists largely Of some foreign
ingredient that is not beneficial. Use the
pods and seeds of those yon know to he
pure only. They are easily raised as q
garden plant, if little precaution 10 start
| ing the seeds is exercised in the spring.
During the summer, whole corn IL alto
gether too heating and fatening to feed
fowls on. They require feed that gives
bone and muscle and strength at the same
time, and produces q material to promote
the growth of new feathers. Chicks
moult twice before they arrive at their
full plumage, but they suffer little from it
their growth, if we'll fed, being so rapid
at the time, and the feathers and body
unite in the production of the full bird.
Besides when chicks. they never lose their
appetites, but feed heavily and regularly /;
and, furthermore, there is no reduction OF
| idt W suuer lrom. CuiCks, ii uckicctcu
when growing their first feathers, howev-
er, suffer. and many die at this stage.
An overstock Of busy vermin aggravste
the case many times. and valuable birds
die from sheer weakness. The careful
poultry man will watch his birds at this
season, and bring to the sunny fold all de-
| linquent and tardy ones, where they will
experience the benefit of tender care and
| nursing made manifest each and mpnv
times day. 1t is folly to undertake to
doctor or prescribe for your birds before
you know from what ailment they are
suffering. Sometimes it may be one thing
and at other times it may be another. 1t
is highly necessary for US to understand
the nature and causes of the bird o suffer-
ings before forcing down its throat nos
trums that are worthless and onlj increase
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