The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23
Winter in the Poultry Yard.

Poultry houses that have not been
thoroughly repaired and made dry and
warm for the cold windy days and long
frosty nights ought to be made snug at
once, so fowls will have not only COM
Portable quarters to roost in at night,
but warm place of refuge from storms
occurring during the day. While all
shelters for poultry should securely pro-
tect from rain and cold, it is also neces-
sary that they be ventilated properly, for
fresh air, like fresh water, is necessity.
There should be within easy access of all
the fowls dust-bins where the birds can
have dust-bath in weathers Of all sorts,
and gravcl-boXes as well.
As green food is very desirable. manv
farmers nowadays regularly lay by
stock of vegetables and green stuff for
their fowls. Cabbagcs, turnips, pota-
toes and carrots are all wholesome food
and the refuse from these crops can be
turned to good account when mixed with
meal, bran and other food. Where the
number of fowls kept is small the refuse
from the table furnishes the vegetable
portion of the ration in potato and apple
parings, cabbage leaves, bits of turnips
and the like. Scraps of fat and meat
are also desirable.
The poultry to be fattened is best and
most economically managed when
penned off from the rest of the flock.
Confined to short runs the fowls Law on
more fat and in less time than when
allowed a wide range. Then. too, the
feeding can be Systematically done and
food selected that tends to fat rather than
the production of eggs. Fowls designed
for market from the first produce the
best and iuciest flesh when generously
fed from the stall to the time of disposal
As heavy weight is desirable for market
purposes. a system of fattenin@ is usually
resorted to, and if the fowls have pre-
yiouslv received fair treatment, ten days
or fortnight at the most gives sufficient
time for this purpose. During this period
exercise is required. Fed three times
per day, confined in clean, airy coops
with all they will eat ofcorn meal mixed
with milk and proyender for a change,
the birds will lay on surprising amount
of flesh. AS soon as fowls have attained
the required degree of fairness. dispose
of them at once. since they will lose in
weight from this time.
Fowls devoted exclusively to laying
eggs also require a regular supply of nu-
tritive food. but care must be observed
not to overfeed, else the hens will fattcn
but lay few eggs. The proper amount
of food varies with circumstances. When
the fowls are confined to short runs they
need more food than when at liberty. In
cold weather an increased supply is de-
mandcd, and then some breeds require
more food than others. During the cold
weather a soft, warm food is exceedingly
beneficial, to be given every morning.
Boiled potatoes mashed and mixed with
corn meal while warm constitutes an eX-
ceLlGnt food. Barley meal, provender
and wheat middlings are good and
should be given one time and anothertor
change. Whole grain is best feed at
night, as this is more slowly digestcd
than ground or soft feed, and furnishes
amore constant supply during the long,
cold night. While corn in one form or
another is always staple food, wheat,
oats and buckwheat are all valuable for
the production of eggs. Laying hens
ought also to be fed meat in some form
at all seasons when they cannot obtain
worms and insects. Green food is also
beneficial to laying hens. Lime and
gravel are necessities, and q little bone
dust now and then is u valuable assist
ant. Milk furnishes, sweet or sour, botk
drink and food. Where milk is not sup
piled, water, plenty Of it and always
fresh and clear, should be provided
~ \. Jorid.