The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-12-09
About Wiuter Layers.

a Philadelphia Recoyd correspondent
writes; (Which is is the BEST fowl for
laying in winterl 1t is often asked. Our
reply Is always that it is the fowl with
the warmcst quarters and good food.
Bllt as this is not what is desired TO be
known, the question cannot be evaded.
we have tried this thing of experiment
ing Tor winter layers, aud a 'tlew" as
the detectives say has been found.
The first requisite is eally Matching
and early maturity But as we are not
able to make our hens lay and set early,
we may not be fortunate enough to get
early hatched pullets for succeeding
season. We can get carly maturity.
however, in the breed, and if we can
have fowls matured before winter sets i'm,
we will have eggs in winter, that is if
we have beeu liberal in feeding them.
How can we get early maturity in the
Brabma or Cochini says an inquirer. If
the object is eggs, aud the purity of the
breed undesirable, cross them with a
Leeghorn cock. Such cross is an ad-
mirable one. We have known pullets of
this cross TO commence laying in Octo
Der and keep it up until moulting time
the succeeding year, The cross reduces
the Brahma size, ipiuring them some
what as market chicks, but imparting
greater degree ofvigor and stamina than
is possessed by the parents. .... .
The Plymouth Rocks are good winter
layers, but unless they are bred carefully.
will disappoiut those who try them.
Being "mads' breed, if bred in-and-in,
they revert more or less to their origi-
mails, and each succeeding season finds
them less prolific and less remuneratiye.
Every one who desires good results from
Plymouth Rocks should change the
cocks annually, by procuring new ones
from yards at a distance, thus preventing
relationship
Among the several good crosses, ex-
cepting the use of the Leghorn, which
lays at the age of five months, we can
rely on a cross of the Dominick and the
Brahma, the Houdan and the Cochin.
and the Plymouth Rock with the common
fowl. A cross will invigorate the stock
Ill any yard, but in no case use a mon
grel for a sire The hens nav be mon
grels, if desired, but the cock should be
OF the best and purest strain. - ''
To get eggs in winter perfect system
OF cleanliness should be practiced. The
droppings should be frequently re-
moved and preserved for future use, and
while 1t is necessary to have the quarters
warm and the fowls protected against
the ingress of cold draughts, care must
be taken to have ventilation. A crack
in the boards, no matter how small, will
give whole flock the roup, and filthy
quarters and roosts will promote sue
cessful sweeping off by the cholera.
The food should be varied Soft food
in the morning and whole grain at night
is better than the usual irregularities
practised. A cheap mess can be prepared
tor a morning meal by running hay
through fodder. cutter, sleeping it over
night, and after giving it warming in
the morning, thcken with meal, and
feed on boards or any other clean place.
1t is wasteful to feed cracked corn, or
even sceenings. Though seemingly
cheaper than whole grains, the difference
will be apparent if a comparison is made.
Avoid overfeeding or too much fat A
fat hen-one extremely so-is as useless
as one that has been insuffciently
fed. A moderate, changeable diet, with
good warm quarters plenty of cracked
oyster shells and some meat scraps from
time to time, will give eggs in abund-
ance in winter; but like all other stock
on the farm, poultry in order to be prof
liable, must receive personal supervision
and care.