The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-06-07
A Bakers Dozen Of Hens

I'D orothy, in Country gentleman.I
1t is an open secret that there is
profit in few hens, but that success
with large flock is a very different
affair. A years experience with a
little flock, beginning with IL, varying
as pullets came into laying, and again,
as some were eaten, from Is at the
highest point to the present number of
IL, shows plainly enough what we ma y
expect on this small scale.
These fowls have had only what may
be called casual attention. They have
rough-boarded house, 10 by 25 feet
in size, lined with building paper, and
with fair-sized windows to the South,
so as TO to be moderately comforta BILE
in severe weather. It has no artificial
heat. Their yard, to which they ha We
access at all times, is perhaps 40 feet
square, enclosed with pailings and wire
netting. 1t had at the beginning of
the year a good turf, which is now
pretty thoroughly destroyed. They
have not been kept in close confine-
ment, however, but have had most of
the time run over several acres for a
part of the day, at will.
This bakers dozen" ofhens, Bro wn
Leghorns and Plymouth Rocks, in
nearly equal proportions, bave aver
aged about $50 eggs month. There
has been only single week in the
year in which no eggs were furnished,
that week being early in December.
They have supplied a small family
(three persons) with eggs of the most
delightful freshness and excellence,
and it is family in which eggs form
an important part Of the regular diet.
Eggs enough have been sold to pay for
the feed. 1t is true that there has
been some help from the house; the
table scraps not being of much impor-
lance where a cat and dog have "first
innings is still modicum that
goes to the fowls, and a good supply
of sour milk has been utilized in this
way. They have had, also, some small
potatoes, and for the summer and fall
months an abundance of apples.
But 1 have not done with the profit
able productiveness of this little flock.
In addition to a good supply of abso-
lutely fresh eggs, gratis, we have been
eating spring chickens for three months,
and have still at least twenty on hand.
The first settings ofeggs Matched poorly,
so that good many eggs were set;
but once Matched, the chicks were ex-
tremely bright and thrifty, and save
for accidents by which several came to
sudden death, hardly one was lost,
The whole number raised was at least
forty.
AS the pallets Matched in April have
begun laying, think they will pay for
themselves before winter sets in. By
disposing Of very few of the young
cockerels, it would be very simple
matter to eliminate entirely the ex-
pense OF raising.
We have fed a considerable variety
of grain, cracked corn and curd (sour
milk being the chief food of the young
ones. To laying hens We feed oats,
corn, gluten feed (for a change) and
wheat bran. In cold weather they
have an ample feed of meal or part
bran, with whatever scraps are con-
yenient, scalded with boiling water
and fed hot. Gravel, ashes and broken
shells are kept before them 1t all times.
Sawdust is used under the roosts
treely-a bushel or more strewn about
twice week, and the droppings taken
up in barrels once in two or three
weeks. This seems to be an easy and
satisfactory arrangement.
A few hens kept in this somewhat
'happy-go-lucky'' fashion, without on
erous exactitude or labor, will furnish
eggs and chickens absolutely free for
several persons. 1t seems to be one
of the natural resources of a little
country place, and like most natural
things. it gives pleasure as well as
profit. Our chickens are familiar pets,
known by name, and possessed of curl
ously real traits of individuality that
provide US with no little amusement
and interest.