The Delta independent., 1898-04-29
COMFORT FOR HENS.
THAT IS THE SECRET OF PRODUCING
WINTER ccc3.

Keep Ysur us.he~ss Csrr, and Supply
. Proper Variety Of Food-Cooa Stock
Il tie First I:eauislss. Ge>l Core Cones
Next.
Ny observation has shown me that
only few mako . profit from tho hens
when they are confined In houses dur
ing the cold weather. writes ". H.
Jenkins in Cultivator and Country Cen
tleman.
Writing from my own experience, !
will say that the first condition neces-
sary for success Is good stock. When I
first started in tho business, I built .
henncry aud in the fall bought lot Of
pullcts of different breeds ages aud
sizes and put them all together in the
building. spens u good deal Of time
that winter feeding and caring for
them. but l got very few eggs until
spring. Since then, with thoroughbred
pullets that raised myself. for two or
three months in the winter have oh
tained OH an average onc-half rs many
eggs Es had hens and sold them for from
2 to cents above tho market quotations.
One hundred hens kept iu this way will
pay the grocery bill for quite . largo
family during the winter. Ny success
with hens began when commenced to
improve my stock.
A few dollars spent for eggs 10 the
best investment one cal make. Minor.
chs, Leghorns and Spanish are among
tho hest layers. Tho pullets should lay
when they are G months oil. il they arc
r1v fol I'D 20 ti,a,,
well. have known chickens hatchcd In
May not to lay m egg until spring.
Tho1 should have commenced laying a.
soon as December TO mako them profit.
able. Give them plenty Of oatmeal and
cracked or whole wheat for tho FIRST two
or three months then bran aud mid.
dlings and little cornincal mixed MP
with o little milk, also curd from milk
II It can bc got chcaply. q little grouud
bone occasionally. and q run whcTc they
will get exercise in scratching for worms
aud insects, and you will have mature
pullcts that will commence laying when
they aro to months cid. according
to the breed. Pullets will sometimes lay
few weeks In the fall, but will stop
playing when tho weather becomes 30
cold that they must be confined in the
houses. How to keep them laying all
winter Is tho question with which wo
are now concerned.
Egg laying Is q part Of the function
Of reproduction. and in tho wild state
there 10 nm instinct whic!, prompts them
70 fulfill this function during tho warm
weather. when tho conditions arc more
favorable. To induce hens to lay eggs
In the winter wo must initiate tho nat.
ural conditions Of cgR production -
closcly ~ possible and make their sur.
roundings in the hcuncry coFsespond
with those in tho spring ~ near - Dos
Gble. Wo must rrnside warmth, SUM-
light variety of food and mako them
wosk for their food.
A warm house und y variety Of food
are necessary. but these will not bring
eggs unless tho hers arc healthy and arc
kept busy scratching. Es they must do
to obtain worms aud insects in tho sum.
warm mash of bran. middlings. oats,
ccrnmcal nnd sometimes . liftIo ground
bone
want to fccsl them cniy Just what
they will cat up at onco, then several
times during tho day throw Q little
small grain. wheat. oats or buckwhcat
for . variety. Gil tho floor aud cover IL
several inches deep with litter Of
leaves. chaiY or oth,r material. Cut
bono and meat should DO kept In boxes
with Stats over tho top. Green bones
from tho butchcr'A cut with bone
cutter. aro necessary TO get the best ro-
sultA NJ they takc tho place Of tho
worms and insects which the hens get
In summer. Shells aud grit must bs
provided. and boxes OF dry earth near o
sunny window for . dust hath. Tho
house must bo - warm that oee can
stay in IL tho coldcss weather without
being uncomfortable. with large win
dows 70 let in tho sunshine, bot having
do0rs to closo over thcr, en- very cold