The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-12-15
WINTER eee-PRoDUcTIoN.
Expert Advice rs to the Best Modern
Methods.


FOWLS that are perpetual layers is the
object that many aim at This Is an
impossibility for nature Will exhaust
.iself and must have period OF rest.
tn order that we have perpetual
production of fresh eggs, the business
must be arranged beforehand. There
is q difference in breeds, some laying
better than others at any time OF the
year. and others, again, giving their
eggs In winter. There is little difficult
ty in obtaining eggs In summer, but
the winter eggs must be worked Tor,
and the fowls managed beforehand.
Hens that have laid well during the
summer cannot be depended on for
late fall or early winter, even If well
fed, but will generally commence in
January, and keep 1t up throughout
February and March, giving good
supply Of eggs If not too old. But 1t
Is better not to allow such birds to go
into the winter. They are generally
fat, after having finished the annual
moult, and should be killed for the
table. After the second annual moult
hens are apt to become egg-bound,
especially IL well fed and fat. The ex-
cess Of fat that accumulates about the
lower intesunes and ovaries weakens
| these organs and renders them incapa-
the fowl suffers and becomes profit
| less. When left too long the bird be-
! comes feverish and the flesh Is unfit
! for food. The better way Is to avoid
/ this trouble since there Is no cure, by
| not allowing the birds to go into the
second winter. Trouble of this kind
seldom occurs with pullets or young
hens.
| To obtain q supply of winter eggs,
we must have the chicks out in March
or April. Leghorns and some of the
| smaller breeds will do in May or the
! first of June, but the Brahmas and
Cochins must come Off early, that they
may have the full season for growth.
| The Asiastics are generally good lay
! ers in winter, and need less artificial
heat. as nature l1s not furnished them
with any ornamental appendages
which suffer by exposure to frostF
| them II Is not necessary to spend large
| sums in warm buildings. What they
can dispense with in this respect they
! demand in feed. which must be given
! regularly The feed must be kept up
and varied with animal and vegetable
diet. The supply of water must never
! fail. We must feed and feed long
time before the eggs will come. Any
| breed of hens will consume an enor-
! IlOuS VI lttu NOAi-
mencing to lay, but after having once
begun they will not require, or even
take so much grain. When laying,
their great craving is for vegetable
and animal substance, and crushed
| clam or oyster shells.
Fowls that are regularly trained have
certain portions of the day for their
different feeds. My birds require
their shells at night, as well as their
greens, and their grain in the morn
ing, and always fresh water. When
| one has the time and convenience,
and enjoys the petting of fowls max
ing warm stews on very cold days is
an admirable plan, and the birds rel
ish them marvellously. Take beef or
pork scraps. and put into an old ket-
tie. having them previously chopped
fine, and fill IL half full of water.
While stewing, throw in a dozen
| chopped onions. two dozen cayenne
peppers, and the days coffee and tea
grounds Thicker the mixture with
| cornmeal and serve 1t around among
the hens hot They relish it amazing
ly when once taught to eat it, and will
look for the ration daily at the certain
time. On cold winter days give this
feed between 2 and 3 o'clock In the
afternoon, and the chicks get their
| CIpDs WdIIneu UP Apt tic coliiiHS toiu
at night. If scraps are not handy,
boil unpealed potatoes, and serve in
the same manner, adding q little
grease or cold gravies left over from
yesterdays dinner.
The combed varieties require warmer
quarters and SUMMER exposure than
the Asatics, and are good winter lay
ers after December and early January.
They will lay in the fall If early
hatched. but the change of fall TO
winter, and the getting into winter
quarters affects them, and they sell
dom commence again before the days
begin to lengthen, at which time
Brahmas will cease reproduction
and become broody. Where one has
the convenience it is well 10 keep
both kinds. in order to insure n sup
ply of eggs. 1t Is useless to expect
many eggs from old fowls of any
variety. Have the buildings ready
early, and the fowls Of the right age
and in condition to insure success.
The business of our domestic hen Is
to produce eggs, and we must feed her
fNr