Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-23
NIX AND RECORD AND FARMER FRIDAY, 3D. 1885.
THE POULTRY YARD.


This Is the season when eggs are high but
II the hens are rightly managed greater prof
its may be realized now than at any other
time The oft-repeated question Is why
do the hens refuse to lay after the weather
becomes cold p This enquiry we propose to
attempt to answer and numerous reasons may
be given. In the first place, warm and COM
Portable poultry house in winter Is absolutely
indispensable to laying; not that it must be
heated with a stove, but that there should be
no cracks and orevioes in the VALE, while the
floor must be kept dry and clean 1t should
also have plenty of light, and the rays of heat
from the sun should penetrate to every por-
ton. While the hens are very partial to &
retired, dark hen-house at night, they will
not remain inside during the day unless the
house is well ventilated and light. Hence it
may be noticed that an open shed is often
preferred to warm, dark close poultry
house.
The feed should be given early, aud the first
meal may consist of a mixture of bran, ground
oats and corn in equal proportions, scalded
and fed warm, bub the hens should not be al
lowed full meal of the soft food. A few
swallows are sufficient, and the remainder OF
the meal should consist of whole grain -
wheat or oats-for which they should be made
to scratch by scattering it in hnely-cut hay,
chat, sawdust or any kind of material that
will serve for the purpose. The object
in compelling them to scratch for their
food is to give them exercise, and pre-
vent them from becoming fat, as overfed hens
will not lay. The best egg food is that of a
heterogeneous character, such as milk, meat,
ETC., OF which they should always receive q
supply. An excellent substitute for meat is
fresh blood from the slaughter houses. 1t
should be cooked, and thickened with bran
and corn meal so as to enable the attendant
to orumble it to pieces for the fowls. A cab
bage chopped fine is excellent as a variety, as
is also clover hay cut in pieces half an inch in
length. The clover may be soaded and add
ed to the soft food if preferred Hens should
never be fed as much as they will eat during
the day unless they are compelled to scratch,
but at night, just before going on the roost,
they may be allowed all the corn they will
eat. No fixed allowance for a hen can be es.
timated, as they should receive only as much
as they will clearly eat
Among their requirements are ground bone,
which may be procured from seedsmen,
pounded oyster shells, gravel and pure fresh
water. Two feelings day are sufficient, ex-
cept in very cold weather. 1t is a difficult
matter to prevent the water FROM freezing at
this season, and the plan has been adopted of
watering the hens three times day, with wa
ter not very cold, adding a teaspoonful of
tiucture of iron to esch quart of water.
Cleanliness is enjoined, and the houses should
be whitewashed occasionally. Hens will not
remain in a filthy house unless forced to do
80, and the droppings will compensate for the
labor of their removal. With clean quarters,
regularity of feeding, variety OF food, and
warmth, there will be a plentiful supply of
eggs, but the hens must be kept at work,
while the dust bath should also be provided.
Something depends upon the breed. A COM
mon flock is easily improved by the use of
pure bred cocks, and the cross adds vgor.
Mongrel hens may be used, but the cock must
be well bred Large combs are Objectionable,
as they freeze, and the Brahmas are preferred
by some for the reason that they are we'll
feathered and have small combs. The Leg
horns are the best layers, but have large
combs and wattles A cross between a Leg.
horn cock and Brahma hen is excellent and
may be made more advantageous by crossing
again with the Brahma, so as to secure hens
three-fourths Brahma and one fourth Leg.
horn. The Plymouth Rocks are the most
shapely and attractive market chicks, and the
hens are good layers. The Langshans lay
earlier than the other large breeds, while the
| Wyandottes are compact, have small combs,
and produce fine market chicks. No breed
possesses all the desirable points, but Judi
cious crossing will greatly assist in improve
ment