Middletown transcript., 1895-11-16
MlDDLETOWN MARKETS.
OF Interest
ITO Farmers
HENS IN COLD WEATHER.

Hens that are still mounting look
pitiable these frosty mornings, huddle-
ing in sunny corners, and apparently
striving, without success, to draw
their ragged clothing closer about
their shivering bodies. "There is
nothing SO human as trees" says a
true mountaineer who loves the woods.
About the homestead all domestic
creatures seem wonderfully ''human;"
we compare their wants and their sem
sations quite naturally with our own.
81 like baked beans, but 1 don't want
to live on them all the time; and Idont
ask old John to live on nothing but
corn" said a friendly disposed man,
speaking of his horse. No doubt va
riety of food is grateful 10 all animals.
Certainlp the hens relish a ''hot
mess" in the cold mornings Of autumn
and winter. Bran or meal scalded
with. boiling water, and mixed with
scraps from the table, makes an excel
lent breakfast for them. Boiled pota-
toes, which at present prices are not
dear food, makes capital change. If
they have their freedom, they find
considerable quantity Of forage until
the ground freezes hard. but liberal
feeding is also required to bring eggs.
Those which have grown their new
plumsge in good time are now in fine
order and laying nicely, but as insects
disappear some animal food musI be
given, to secure the best results. In
the flock best known to the writer,
fresh bones seem to have the most i'm
mediate effect of any tid-bir that can
be offered. Small bones may be broken
up readily with hammer,.and the ex-
treme greed with which the hens sieze
upon the fragments speaks for itself.
Ours being very tame and confding,
will crowd about under the very ham,
mer when they see it in motion. And
the process of converting little heap
of bones into new-laid eggs goes on
with surprising rapidity and certainty.
With excellent care and warm shell
ter there is really no difficulty in hav-
ing eggs in profusion at all seasons.
And how we'll the additional product
at time when eggs are worth most
pays for the little margin between only
moderate care and the best carel
While the days are pleasant, hens
will be active, if they have freedom to
roam at large: but as soon as winter is
actually upon us, they must be encour-
aged to scratch for themselves. Ex-
ercise is indispensable to their best
thrift, but they will neglect it if they
are warmly housed, freely fed, and
left to themselves. Even boys do not
always rush to the woodpile voluntar-
lily TO warm their blood in a nipping
morning. For exercise, then, a part
of the days ration Of whole grain
should be scattered in litter, so that it
will he re-discovered grain by grain.
This should be the second feed. AS
fowls are early risers, the hot break
fast should be given as early as possi-
BILE. Then, just before school, if the
care taker gots to school, abundant
pure water and little scattered grain
to keep them busy through the day.
Then in the afternoon, before the early
twilight, more grain, for whole grain
is best at night, especially in very cold
weather. Wheat is perhaps the best
reproducing food, and it has been low
enough for months past to admit of
feeding sound grain. But a variety is
to be sought-corn, oats, buckwheat,
and in winter onions or cabbage, ap-
pies, or fresh food of some kind. It is
the small extras, the little thoughtful
nesses, that make the difference.
Gravel, dust baths, broken crockery
or oyster sfsIis promptness in mOy-
Ing droppings- these are things to
keep III mind, and TO gixe the requisit
odd bits Of time To supplying. But the
demand is mol large one. Added to
lliese will he the task Of gathering up
the eggs every day, aud II the egg bas-
ke. is heavy, surely nobody will COM
plain.
The IRA ANscRIPT has received this
week Bulletin NJ. % from the Agri-
cllluraI Experiment Statiun, Delaware
College. The subject lie .,strswberries.
- ~uv@nrn I.<rsw.