The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-02-24
Are Your Hens Laying?

If not, it is probably due to yourl neg
ligence. Least of all live stock will
hens bear neglect in winter and be
profitable. 1t is an easy matter to give
hens good care when they need it
much easier, I think, than to neglect
them. The little extra work and study
are not so difficult TO bestow, as the
thought of throwing out feed without
pay is hard to bear. Most of us are
living to accomplish something in the
world, and there is satisfaction in doing
things well. Anyone undertaking the
care of poultry, and doing this in the
best way possible, will find the keenes'
interest and pleasure in the work. One
who cares for live stock of any kind in
an intelligent manner, SO as to enlist
his whole thought, soon becomes an
enthusiast. This result is due to the
fact that the work pays in cash and
pleasure. have found but little salts
faction in doing things by halves.
Many think they can do work by the
SO per cent method and receive returns
by the 100 per cent method. This is en-
tirely mistake. The former is apt to
bring results netting from naught to 10
per cent, while the latter will often net
q premium of several per cent.
The :hen, although beautiful bird
when in laying condition, is not
proud in regard to her quarters. The
brilliant sunlight to bask in, box OF
dry earth to wallow in, q quantity Of
straw, chaff or leaves to scratch in and
clean dark nest to lay in are her de.
lights. She does not enjoy winter
blasts or storms from any quarter. She
does not enjoy standing around all day
with nothing to do. She does not en-.
Joy going to roost in the daytime
though for a change she Is often forced
to do SO. She does not enjoy meal OF
cold, dry grain in the morning so well
as a warm mess. We would not like
cold bread for breakfast so well as warm
pancakes, and the hen is not unlike
the more intelligent bipeds in
many respects. She does not en-
Joy so we'll a changeless regimen
as one served with a little seasoning of
some kind. She does not enjoy placing
shells on eggs without material to make
them of any more than carpenter ell
joys building without material TO work
with. Give her the material and she
will turn out as fine job of work as
the best mechanic.-C. M. D.
"My hens don't lay in winter" is
often the complaint made by farmers.
Scholars tell us that there is reason
for everything. Let us, therefore, con.
slider carefully the reason for this COM
plant.
In order to make hens lay well in
winter you must make the henhOuse
as near like summer as possible. Give
the hens box of roaddust and plenty
of ashes and gravel. Hens when idle
are apt to become too fat to lay well,
consequently they must be kept al
work. For this purpose spread lttel
upon the floor and throw grain among
it. They will scratch it for hours.
Some hang pieces of meat and cabbage
lust out of their reach, and let the hens
Jump for them. Feed them some green
food every day, such as cabbage, chop
ped apples, beets, etc.
Green bones are almost a necessity
to egg producing. If you are unable
to purchase a green-bone cutter and
cannot use your neighbours, the only
way remaining will be to procure {
block of wood, or, what is much better
la piece of iron, and, with an axe o.
hammer, break the bones into tint
pieces Robert w. Budd.