The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-20
The Fall Care of Poultry.

Rural New Yorker.
At this season of the year, when prices are
| usually low many are prone. to look upon the
dark side of poultry keeping, but as such de-
preston is caused by desire to reduce stock, a
point is reached late in the year at which ship
ments become less frequent, and prices for pOul-
try and eggs rise until the hens begin to lay
abundantly in the spring.
Before reducing stock, select all the hens that
have moulted or show signs Of moul;ing, as they
will complete the process and begin to lay before
cold weather comes on. Though the rule may
not he infalible, yet the hen pullet that be-
gins to lay on the approach OF winter will gener
ally make a good winter layer, while the that
does not commence before cold weather usually
postpones operations until spring. The hens in
tended for market, therefore, should be those
that have not moulted, as moulting requires
about three months.
Another point is that moulting hen is usual
ly fat This is because she stores in her system
the fat of the food while the mineral aud nitro
genous elements go to the formation Of feathers.
Hence, hen may be very much debilitated by
the shedding of new feathers, and yet be very
fat The best food for a moulting hen is oat-
meal, with meat aud milk whenever such can
be procured. Feed very little corn, as she
should not be made very fat.
AS the fall begins to pass over. and winter ap
proaches, by careful management the hens may
be made to lay all winter. and the beginning of
the winter preparation should be made in the
fall. In some sections the season is not very
severe until January and advantage should be
taken of the warmer weather. Lice must still
be kept down, and the poultry house must be
made as comfortable as possible. To get
the hens in good laying condition. those
that very fat should be separated
from the others, and be fed upon oats, as the
only food. compelling them to hunt and scratch
for the grain in cut straw, leaves or some kline
of litter, as the consequent exerton will reduce
them in flesh and keep them in health. AS soon
as the hens begin to lay. they may be fed we'll
on plenty Of food. provided there is a variety,
as the production of eggs will enable. them to
appropriate it to that purpose. Whenever a
hen ceases to lay. if even for few days, she be-
gins to fatten. and this must be guarded against.
fat female, whether quadruped or biped, is
not very prolific.
If soft food is given it should consist OF ground
OATS three parts shorts one apart, and bran two
parts, and if the hens laying we'll there
should be added one part of corn-meal and one
of ground meat Bone meal, ground shells and
pure water should always be where the fowls
can have access to them, and the soft food
should be seasoned with salt, scalded. and fed
warm. No food will be necessary then until
night. when oats and wheat should be given: un-
less in cold weather, when corn may also be al
lowed.
Chicks Matched late in the summer or during
the fall must be sold whenever cold weather
sets in. as they seldom grow.after frost They
will remain nearly of the same size all through
the winter, but will grow rapidly on the ap
proach of spring Such chicks usually make
short legged. compact-looking fowls, while those
Matched in the spring are taller. 1t pays to give
the late chicks the whole of the warm weather in
which to grow and attain all size possible, but
if kept till the end of the year they should be
sold about the middle of January. as prices then
begin to rise. Good warm quarters have some
influence on tho growth of chicks and the pro-
Effectiveness of hens, and as but little can be done
in winter, this the proper time to build and make
preparations.