Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-03
Dailu Kennfttt 3ournal.
Winter Layers.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ONLY
You've HENs.-VERY LITTLE DIFFER
ENCE IN BREEDS.-HoUsES.


| ENCE IN BREEDs.-HoUsES.
IL is well known axiom among poultry
keepers. that hens are invariably prone to
lay when eggs are low, and totally op-
posed 10 the egg business when eggs are
high. Now eggs are always the highest
during the late fall and winter months
They usually commence TO rise in October
until, gradually going up, the maximum
price is reached about Christmas. Here
prices rest without any material change
for about a month, when they commence
to fall, usually reaching their normal con-
dition some time in March. Therefore the
main object of those who keep poultry for
profit is to make their hens lay during the
period of high prices. which occurs an
nually throughout the winter season.
To begin with, if you would have win
ter layers, never keep anything but young
fowls under IA months old Old hens are
anuisance. They are the bane of every
hen pen. They always moult in the fall,
after which process they will stand
around dumpish on one leg all winter,
without laying an egg, and then when
spring comes with low prices, lay rs they
never did before. The best plan yet dis
covered to make these old fowls lay is to
cut off their heads. To have prolific
winter layers, the chickens should be
hatched in March or April, then if
properly treated, the pullets will
commence to lay in September. and
will continue all winter, after which
they can be killed for market in April or
May before the advent of spring chickens.
when they will fetch good price 1t
makes but little odds what breed is kept
for winter layers, provided they are well
fed and housed. Nearly every breed has
its merits. The Leghorn and non-setting
breeds are inclined TO lay the best, vet, on
the other hand, the Brahmas and Asaties
are harder and better able TO withstand
the cold. Even the old dunghill fowl. if
treated properly, make excellent LAYERS.
One Of the best records we ever knew of
in the egg-producing line was made by a
pair OF fowls of this class. There is one
feature that recommends the Asiatics.
They are quiet, peaceful fowls, and will
not fly over garden fences to undermine
and root up choice vegetable plants.
Neither will they quarrel among them
selves, and when you wish to handle them
they take it fair and easy, making but
very little. if any, remonstrance To have
hens lay well in the winter it is of the ut
most importance to have suitable houses
Many farmers do not seem to realize this.
They will keep their poultry in some old,
tumble down clubhouse, or some dark.
dingy hole in the barn. or more likely
yet, have then around under foot, roost-
ing at night on the great beams OF the
barn. These fowls are obliged to shift
for themselves and pick up their
living the best they can. Yet
these farmers when their supply of eggs
comes short will be grumbling round
about the unproftableness Of poultry and
what bother they are.
A hen house for winter layers need not.
necessarily. be Of any fancy design or af
ter any particular pattern. All that is re-
quired is to have it roomy and warm with
facilities for ventilation. Many make a
mistake in crowding a large lot of fowls
into small house. They will appear
very warm and comfortable, but almost
invariably the effluvium existing from so
many birds confined in so small space
renders the air impure, and getting dis
eased, many of them die off. A good To-
cation for a house is on side bill sloping
abruptly to the south. An excavation
large enough for the foundation of the
house can be made. wall built up on the
back side with the building fronting to the
south or southeast. The sunny side
should be generously supplied with win
dows, for there is nothing which is more
conducive to the health and welfare of
poultry than the life-giving rays of the
sun in which they can bask at their pleas
ure.
TO be concluded