The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-02-03
ON THE FARM.
Wintsrlng Hens Prof tabIy.

The secret OF keeping poultry during
cold weather and making them pay for
their keeping is not understood by many
who raise chickens with this object as
principal one in view, writes an expert
to the Independent. After the moulting
season, which commences in August and
ends late in October or November, the
hens are, as a rule, quite weak, and feel
miserable generally. This feeling never
stimulates egg production; indeed, we
usually find the months Of December,
January and February pass without eggs
if any. very few are laid. The con
dit;on in which they are, with cold
weather about them, makes hens feel
like resting, and sometimes it is really
better for them.
Hens during moulting should receive
more attention than most poultrymen
give them. My plan has always been
to separate all ailing birds from the male
as soon as they show signs of moulting.
Feed them plenty of bone meal in warm
mixed feed daily, with little flaxseed
added, three times weekly. A little
green food, such as lettuce, onion tops,
cabbage leaves, will be relished along
give nature helps them through moulting
more rapidly, aDd if they are newly feath
cred by November, they will usually
begin laying early in d December and con.
tinue throughout the winter. Many
have wondered way more eggs did not
come during the winter months, but
did not stop to reason the questio.
thoroughly and locate the real cause
This should be more carefully attended
to next season. The experiment viii
cost you but little trouble, and will in g
great measure assist you i'll rectifyine
| the difficulty.
In winter the house need not be toe
close, but ventilation must be promoted
The floor should be we'll sanded, and
over this fresh straw can be nicely scat
tered, SO that they can be kept warmer
| ard be induced to scratch and hunt fol
the food thrown among it, bringing
about activity, which is always necess
| airy fer good layers. The water should
be heated quite warm, and placed in the
| vessel as soop as you feed them. The
food and warm drink do much toward
warming their bodice up and starting
them on the day comfortable. Water
will not remain warm all day, but will
be far from ice cold for some hours in g
snug house. Warm milk is also excel
ent as drink, and, when possible, il
should be given to them. Parched corr
at night, with little cooked meat scraps
should be the only food given them al
| night, both being heating foods, essent'
ial liz cold weather. The parched corr
| takesIout the chill from the corn kerne
and the parched part is good for The
blood.
l usually make a bank of horse
| manure around my building, this GOV
| cred over with boards to keep out tn,
| frost as much as possible, and the bene-
fit is great in keeping the house SNUG
| and free from cold in the worst period o
winter weather. l sometimes put bo,
that is made large enough to hold
wheelbarrow load of fresh horse manur
into the coop, aud let them work over i
for a few hours, giving them new kim
of indoor work, which they very mucl
enjoy, as will be seen when tried.
! The secret of keeping your flock il
laying condition in cold winter weathe
can be accomplished in great measur
by following the hints given ia TIL
article, and, eggs in winter being high il
price, it will reward you for the troubl
you take in preparing the hens for thi
| season,