Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-12-11
rsI POULTRY YARD.

Frcding In winter l. more puIIllng
and perplexing than any other duty.
10 feed enough aud not too much re-
quir,s Judgment, sni though the expert
enc-d loultfymsu NAV have hut little
difficulty. Yet the novice makes grrat
many mistakes. Anybody can feed
chickens, that l.. throw down IN. food
aud allow the fowls "a eat AZ much ss
they wish. hut such q system IL very
harmful and results IN the hen. ceaslng
a. lay sud the poulirymNn b'coming dis
satisfied. lie attribute. the lack OF proht
Ia tie hens, aud look. around .nqui'-
ingly for M. "bcst breed" hoping Ia
secure some strain that will lay more
eggs than othsrs, While the scarcity of
eggs il due Ia injudiciou- feeding.
gu. Of tho reasons Why careful aud
indiciou. feeding should bc prscticed In
winter l. that the poultryman must
produc. the proper condition. Ter lay
ing. In the summer hens have plenty
of exercise, green food, animal food aud
= variety. II l. the work of securing
their food that makes them contenied
aud keeps thsm In health. Their dige.-
tiOn l. better, they have kcener appc-
,ltes aud can duet their bodies when
ever they .o desire. When the winter
come. aud they have no exercise they
b.,om. addicted Ia the Vices that origl-
nate from idlens.s. fcathsr-pulling, egg
eating aud qusrrcllng become habits.
They will eat frequently because there
I. nothing else to do. They not only
become fat aud clumsy. but also dlseas-
"a q, the same time because of their in-
activity.
The flrst thing for the poultryman 10
provide Ia winter Il place for exercise,
and all the food allowed should make the
hen. seek Il Ia some manner. The hard
or they hay. To work aud scratch for II
the better. A mass Of leaves or any
Lind of litter will answer. The next
point l. how much food Ia give Ia fiock
Of say = doIen hens. The old rule IL
that i've peck. ~ corn will support \
hen for a year, and that one quart day
for twelve hens l. q fair allowance; but
|. Nell-knOwn that one hen may con-
sumo even six pecks and another only
four pevks, heuc. any attempt to feed
hens by fixing upon certain propor-
tiou Of food will fail In securing expect.
.d results, a. individual hens differ, no
two being alike. and differ also In prefer
enccs oi food, quantity consumed, aud
In their condition, as laying hen ~
qulre. difient food and more Of IL than a
nOn-layer.
II l. very difficult Ia measure mixed
diet, but there 1. one safe rule 10 follow,
which !. To give them half as much n.
they will eat In the morning. nothing at
noon aud a full meal at night. For a
doIen hens put three or four pounds OF
y heat Ia a trough. let them eat until
the last hen walks away. Then weigh
IN. quantity left over, which will show
exactly how much MAS eaten. The next
morning give them half as much as they
ate before, but scatter the food In Hitter
aud let them work for IL. Keep them
| rather hungry than otherwise. At night
an the trough full of Ill sorts Of food
that YOU ~i.h 20 give them and let them
eat until they walk away from h, then
remove the remainder. Never leave
food In troughs after the hens have eat
en-. In thus feeding the hens u requires
but two or three days for one TO fully
understand the requirements of hi'
fcck.-Mirror and Farmer.