Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-02-24

can be built double, thus allowing for 80
fowls. The open shed for the fowls TO
scratch, dust and exercise in, | deem al
most indi spensable, il the best results are
to be obtained. 1t is really not the nature
of the hen to lay many eggs during the fall
and winter months and in order to make
them lay at this time, we must resort to
the best means possible, not only by feed
ing them the right kind Of food, but 1t must
be fed in such way, or some parts OF 1t,
as to induce them to exercise, to keep
scratching, to hunt for their food and so,
under this shed, we put cut straw, leaves,
or chaff and in this hide all the whole grain
we give them, thus compelling them to hunt
for it. They also get pure fresh air, which
is Just as good for them as for us. They
don't get lazy and NOPE around. And
speaking of that reminds me of something
l read in poultry journal the other day.
One poultryman asked another "what he
considered the worst vice or pest in the
poultry business" The answer was,
"Laziness, both on the part of the fowls
and the one who pretended to care for
them" Truer words were never spoken.
For feed in the morning, would give
warm mash of cooked vegetables, such as
potatoes (small ones are just as good), beets,
carrots, turnips, the parings that have been
left over from the kitchen, mixed with corn
meal, middlings, bran, ground oats and
prepared animal meal, a concentrated bone
and meat preparation, which | consider
first-class, as it takes the place of the in
sect food they obtain in the summer, and If
we expect to get eggs in the late fall or
winter on a paying basis, it is necessary to
have something of this kind. would pre-
pare this mixture the night before, season
ing with salt and occasionally teaspoon
| full or two of Sheridan's condition powders;
cover tightly, and allow it to cook in its
own heat through the night. If one has
set kettle in which to prepare and cook, so
much the better. | would feed this one
morning.; the next, | would substitute fine
cut clover rowen mixed with the different
kinds of meal and allowed to cook as before.
The morning meal would give as soon as
light enough for them TO see. Feed in pans
or troughs, which should be frequently
cleaned. At o'clock / would sift few
kernels of small grain into the litter and
thus keep them stirring for it. At noon
would feed barley one day and good whole
wheat the next. For supper, buckwheat
once or twice during the week, and in cold
weather whole corn as often as twice each
week. If extremely cold, give them a sup
per of whole corn, always feeding the whole
grain in the litter occasionally give a
meal of oats, and once in a while, morn
ing meal of steamed oats and feed of dry
clover rowen, with now and then a raw
cabbage or turnip to pick at. Give them
fresh water at least twice each day
Build your houses warm and provide for
top ventilation in summer, ventilating from
the top by shaft with the opening nea
the floor in winter. If the hens are yarded
in summer make the yards large enough,
so that they will keep grassed overall sum-
mer. Kerosene the perches once week
remove all droppings from the roosts al
least once each week, twice is better. II
your old fowls do not moult early, get theil
new growth of feathers and the necessary
rest before cold weather comes on, it will
not pay to keep them over, unless you have
a special object in view.
Time will not permit me in so brief 8
paper and so large subject to speak of the
different breeds, and those to be preferred
Suffice it to say that almost any breed witt
the right care and management will pay z
handsome profit.
have only touched very briefly on som'
points. If have succeeded in interesting
any one present to the extent of leading
them to look into the matter of poultry
raising, | shall certainly feel very grateful
and that l have been amply rewarded.