Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-29
Careful Feeding In cold weather.

We have more than once heard the remark
dropped, when we have urged special atten-
ton to poultry at this dreary season upon the
careless or Indifferent breeder: 'sAh well,
we get no eggs in these cold months, and We
don't mind the feeding 30 that they are kept
going along fairly, while they are thus un-
profitable" This is not only heartless, but
is both reckless and wasteful. For how can
we expect our hens to give US eggs unless we
supply them with the nutriment and require
ments that 60 to make their eggsg And to
keep poultry in good, thrifty condition, we
have found the following plan for feeding
them in winter the best we ever adopted
It is attended with some trouble, particu-
lsrly If you have large foeks to care for
But, large or small, composed of young or
older birds, this method has, in our exper-
ience, proved profitable, and the fowls thus
attended to have Hourished well amid the
winter. and come out in good condition in
the spring, as rule, when for more than
three consecutive months they were unable
to find foot square of earth, outside their
quarters, that WAS free from snow or ice.
From November to March we have found
two good meals a day all-suficient. The
floors of hen-houses are best if on the earth
These are spaded ever twice a month"; and
fresh loan (from heap seasonably thrown
up in the barn cellar corner) should be
strewn upon the floors as often as they are
loosened mp. In the earliest months, say
1 NoFSnDSE SAo OoC0HD6rI SIl Ln9 Iallon leaves
that can be handily gathered should be
| thrown into the houses. And into these the
| afternoon feed of dry grain is scattered
4 daily, which the fowls scratch for and find
| to the last kernel.
In the morning warm meal is given of
| mashed boiled potatoes and turnips, mixed
! with sealded meal and bran, in equal parts
Warm water is furnished them at each
| feeding time, and it is not left to freeze in
| their pens. Into this mashed feed, regu-
larly, once a week, may be sprinkled
! little cayenne pepper, which they never OBJ
| ject to, and which is an excellent correc-
/ tive in the coid season. Cabbage and tur-
| nips are alternately fed, chopped up fine
| (when the weather Is freezing), little at a
| time. And when the dead the dead leaves
! are used up fine hay is strewn about the
I foor, which, if green cured, they will de.
YOUR eagerly, and prodtably towards diges>s
ton. At night (or aftsrnoon) give them
whole grain-eorn, oats, barley, and wheat.
| Hot mashes in the morning and green
| food of some kind, dry food and broken
| bone at night; occasionally charcoal dust Tor
POWDER in the soft feed, and plenty of clean
water.
| With this kind of feeding and care, re-
| gularly bestowed, and the usual needed sup
ply of gravel, oyster shells, pounded up, and
the dust-bath handy, if your hens do not
1 give you some eggs in winter-time, they
| are not of the laying kind, and if your
| poultry does not thus keep healthy and
come out in fine condition in the spring, you
are not so fortunate as we have been after
| pursuing this style of treatment generally for
years. What is worth doing at all is worth
| doing well.