Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-02-16
Pou,t,y in Winter.
BY c. W. PEASANTS.

I
Fowls 10 be profitable must have
warm, dry. rocmy and comfortable
quarters during cold weather. A house
ten feet square and SIX feet high to the
caves, will be sufficient room tor thirty
fowls. and when more than that num-
Der are kept the number of the houses
should be increased in proportion ,o
the number Of fowls.
When two or more houses are re.
CURED they should be located some
fifty to one hundred yards apar.,
and efforts made to induce
the fowls to scatter about over
the farm. as they will be more healthy
and profitableif managed in this way
than il large numbers are compelled to
roost in the same house and flock to-
gether during the dav. Besides, when
their houses, are tight and comfortable,
as they mus, be for fowls to be profit
able during the winter. if more than
thirty are housed in one house tine air
becomes poisonous by the odor thrown
of from their bodies, which is very Of
fens,ve and sickening. as may be deter
mined by any one who will enter a
tight house at morning in which large
humber Of fowls have roasted during
the night.
The houses should be well ventilated
a, the gable ends near the comb. in
order that the fowls be not exposed to a
draft while at roost.
The roost poles should be on a
level. and, unless the floors are damp
(Which should by no means be the
case), there is no advantage iE having
them more than two or three feet from
the ground When the doors and the
windows are closed {exact means for
ventilation at the top, all poultry
houses during cold weather should be
perfectly tight; especially below and al
least three feet above the level of the
roost poles. No hen will lay well when
there is a constant current of cold air
passing up under and around her while
at roost.
To induce laying, hens must be kept
comfortable as well as supplied with
proper varieties of food.
BY all means there should be a SIX
or twelve-light WIN low in tie south side
OF every poultry house; IN fact, it would
be much more comfortable during cold
windy, but sunshiny days, ii the whole
south side of the house was glass.
There Is no profit whatever in keep
ing surplus of males through winter.
In fact all fowls except hens between
the ages of six months and two and
a half years, and the males in
tended for the next years breeding
purposes, should be sold off in fall or
early winter.
The surplus being disposed of early,
the hens kept for laying will have more
room, be better cortented, and, if vel!
fed. lay much better than when large
numbers are crowded together, as is
frequently the case. @
During winter the natural and best
food for laying hens iinsects) are all
frozen up ia the ground and cannot be
obtained as in warm weather. But We
can supply this deficiency with meat
scraps. crackllngs. etc, which should
be added to their morning feed ofequal
quantities by measure ofc 'rn meal and
wheat bran. we'll mixed, and thoroughly
scalded by addi.g boiling water. They
should be fed again late in the even
ing with whole grain corn one even
ing, oats the next, wheat or wheat
screenings the next, etc. Thew should
have free access to, fresh, pure water
and gravel at all times.
Managed III TINS way. think almost
any on: will find poultry the most pro-
fitable stock kept on farm.-Ameri-
can Farmer.