The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-24

warm and comfortable poultry house 10
winter Is absolutely Indispensable to laying
no. that IL ust ne heated with a stove but
that there should be 40 cracks Or c'evices in
the walls, while the floor must be kept dry
and clean. 1t sho1ld also have plenty OF
light, and the rays of heat from the sun
should penetrate TO every portion. While
the hens are very partial to retired, dark
ben house at night, they will not remain in
side during the day unless the house IS we'll
ventilated and light Hence il may be
noticed that al open shed il often preferred
TO warm, close dark poultry house.
The feed should be gwen early. and the
nrst meal may Consist Of mixture OF bran,
ground oats and corn in equal proportions
scaloed and fed warm, b1t tle hens should
not be allowed fall meal OF the soft food
a few swallows are sufficient. and the re-
msinder OF The meal should 90 lsst OF whole
grsin-wheat or oats-for WHICH they should
be made 10 scratch by scattering il 10 ioely
cut hsy, chaf. s2wd1st or Any kind OF ma
terisl that viii serve fer the Purpose The
object 10 compelling them to scratch for
their food 8 to give them exercise, and pre-
vent them from becoming IA, as ovsr fed
hens will not lay The best egg food is
that OF q heterogeneous character, such
as milk, meat, etc, of which they should al
ways receive a supply. ! n excsilent sub
stitute for meat is fresh blood from the
slaughter houses It should De cooker aud
thickened with bran and corn meal. so as to
enable the attendant to cramble 1t to pieces
for the fowls. A cabbage chopped Inc is
excellent as vsrig ty, es is also clover hay
cut IN pieces haIf an inch in length. The
clover may be scalded ard added TO the soft
food if preferred Hens should never be fed
IS much as they will eat during the day I'M
less they are compelled to scratch but at
night just before going to roost, thsv may
be allowed all the corn they will eat No
fixed allowance for hen can be estimated.
as they should receive only as much as they
will oieanly eat.
Among their requirements are groand
bone, which may be procured from seeds
men, pounded oyster shells, gravel and pure
fresh water. Two feelings q day are sufi-
Gent. except 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 water not very cold, add
ing teaspoonful of tincture of iron TO each
quart of water. Cleanliness is eDjoined, aud
the houses should be whitewashed occasion
ally. Hens i'll not remain in filthy house
unless f0rced to do so, and the dr0ppings
will compensate for the labor OF their re
moval. With clesn quarters. regularity OF
feeding, variety of food. and warmth, there
Will be plentiful supply OF eggs, but the
hers must be kept at work, while the dust
BATH should also be provided.
Something depends upon the breed.
common flock is easily improved by the use
OF pure-bred cocks, and the cross adds vigor.
Mongrel hens may be used, but the cock
must be well-bred. Large combs are objec-
tonable. as they freeze, and the Brshmes are
preferred by some for the reason that they
are we'll feathered ard have small combs.
The Leghorns are the best layers, but have
large combs and vattles A cross between
Leghorn cock and Brshms hen is excellent,
and may be made more advantageous by
crossing again with the Brahma, SO as to Sc
cure hens three-fourths Brahms and one
fourth Leghorn. The Plymouth Rocks are
the most cbapely and attractive market
chicks and the hens are good layers. The
Langshsps 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 judicious crossing will greatly
assist in Improvement.