The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-06
Winter Egg Production.

To obtain breed of fowls that are ptrpet-
ual layers is the object that many aim at. This
is an impossiblity. for nature will Exhaust its
elf and must have period of rest. In order
that we may have perpetual production of
fresh eggs the business must be arranged be-
forehand. There is difference in breeds;
some laying better than Others at any time of
the year. and others, again, will give their eggs
in winter. There is little difficulty in obtain
ing eggs in summer, but the winter eggs must
be worked for, and the fowls managed before
hand. Hens that have laid we'll during the
summer can not be depended on for late fall
or early winter, even if well fed, but will gen.
orally commence in January and keep it up
throughout February and March, giving a
good supply of eggs if not too old. But it is
better not to allow such birds to go into the
winter. They are generally fat, after having
finished the annual moult, and should be Kill
led for the table. After the second annual
mouit hens are apt to become egg-bound, es-
pecially if well fed and fat I he excess of fat
that accumulates about the lower intestines
and ovaries weakens these organs and renders
them incapable of performing their offices.
Hence the fowl suffers and becomes profitless.
When left too long the bird becomes feverish
and the flesh is unfit for food. The better way
Ia to avoid this trouble, since there is no cure,
by not allowing the birds to go into the second
winter Trouble of this kind seldom occurs
with pullets or young hens.
To obtain supply of winter eggs we must
have the chicks out in March or April. Leg
horns and some OF the smaller breed will do in
May, or the first of June, but the Brahmas and
have the full season for growth. The Aslatics
are generally good layers in winter and need
less artificial heat as nature has not furnished
them with any ornamental appendages which
suffer by exposure to frost. For them it is not
necessary to spend large sums in warm build
ings What they dispense with in this respect
they demand in feed, which must be given reg
ularly. The feed must be kept up and varied
with animal and vegetable diet. The supply
of water must never fail. We must feed and
q long time before the eggs will come. Any
breed of hens will consume an enormous guam
tity of feed before commencing to lay, but
after having once begun they will not require,
or even take SO much grain. When laying
{ their great craving is for vegetable and animal
substances and crushed clam or oyster shells
Fowls that are regularly trained have GER
tain portions of the day for their different
feeds. My birds require their shells at night
as well as their greens, and their grain in the
morning. and always fresh water. When one
has the time and convenience, and enjoys the
petting of fowls, making warm stews on a very
cold day is an admirable plan, and the birds
relish them marvelously. Take beef or pork
scraps and put them into an old kettle, having
them previously chopped fine, and fill it hall
full of water. While stewing, throw in a
dozen chopped onions, two dozen cayenne
peppers, and the days coffee and tea grounds
Thicker the mixture with corn meal and serve
it around among the hens hot. They relish il
amazingly when once taught to eat it, and will
look for the ration daily at the certain time
On cold winter days give this feed between
two and three o'clock in the afternoon and the
chicks get their chops warmed up for coming
cold at night. If scraps are not handy boil
unpeeled potatoes and serve in the same man
ner, adding little grease or cold gravies left
over from yesterdays dinner.
The combed varieties require warmer quar-
tiers and summer exposures than the Asiatics
and are good winter layers after December
and early January. They will lay in the fall
if early Matched, but the change of fall to win.
ter and the getting into winter quarters affects
them, and they seldom commence again before
the days begins to lengthen, at which time
Brahmas will cease egg production and become
broody. Where one has the convenience it is
well to keep both kinds, in order to ensure q
supply of eggs. 1t is useless to expect many
eggs from old fowls Of any variety. Have the
building ready early and the fowls of the right
age and in condition to ensure success The
business of our domestic hen is 10 produce
eggs, and we must iced her for it.-C. B. IN
Country Gentleman. -
=