Arizona republican., 1898-02-17
ARE YOUR HENS LAYING?

If not, it is probably due to your negligence. Least of all livestock will hens bear neglect in winter and be profitable. It is an easy matter to give hens good care when they need it-much easier, think, than to neg feet them. The little extra work and study are not so difficult to bestow as the thought of throwing out feed with out pay is hard to bear. Most of us, are living to accomplish something in the world, and there is satisfaction in doing things well. Any one under taking the care of poultry, and doing this in the best way possible, will find the keenest interest and pleasure in the work. One who cares for livestock 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. I have found but little satisfaction in doing things by halves. Many think they can do work by the 50 per cent method and receive returns by the 100 per cent method. This is entirely a mistake. The for mer is apt to bring results netting from naught to 10 per cent, while the letter will often net a premium of sev- eral per cent.
 The hen, although a beautiful bird when in laying condition, is not proud in regard to her quarters. The bril- liant sunlight to bask in, box of dry earth to wallow in, quantity of straw, chaff or leaves to s.ratch Tn and clean, dark nest to lay in are her delights. She does not enjoy Win ter blasts or storms from any quarter. She does not enjoy standing around all 1 day with nothing to do. She does not 1 enjoy going to roost in the daytime, though for change she is often forced | to do so. She does not enjoy a meal 1 of cold, dry grain in the morning so well as a warm mess. We would not l like cold bread for breakfast so we'll as warm pancakes, and the hen is not
 unlike the more intelligent bipeds in many respects. She does not enjoy so well a changeless regimen as one 1 served with a little seasoning of some kind. She does not enjoy placing 2 | shells on eggs without material to make them of any more than a car penter enjoys building without ma l terial, 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 by farmers Schol-
 ars tell us that there is a reason for everything. Let us therefore consider
 carefully the reason for this con-
 plaint.
 In order to make hens lay we'll in
 winter you must make the hen house as near like summer as possible. Give
 the hens a box of road dust and plenty of ashes and gravel Hens when idle 1 are apt to become too fat to lay well
 consequently they must be kept al
 work For this purpose spread litter upon the floor and throw grain among { it. They will scratch it for hours Some hang pieces of meat and cabbage l just out of their reach, and let tht
 hens jump for them. Feed them some
 green food every day, such as cabbage
 chopped apples, beets. etc.
 Green bones are almost necessity
 to egg producing. If you are unable to purchase green bone cutter ant
 cannot use your neighbor's, the onl,
 way remaining will be to procure |; block of wood, or, what is much bet
 ter, piece of iron, and, with a ax,
 or hammer, break the bones into fin, pieces ". Budd in New Yorl
 Tribune.