The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-14
Fall Care Of Poultry.
Country Gentleman.

SouHlTy Gentlemdn.
During the many cares Of the shortening
days we are apt to neglect our stock little
in the hurry to be beforehanded with our
fall work, and just at this time live stock of
all kinds demand little extra care, and
more than any of them, the hen needs an
extra allowance to aid her in her annual
change Of plumage The green food is fast
disappearing i the bugs and worms that
are gone-Or soon will be, and she must
from now on depend almost entirely on that
which is given her for food. little extra
care and attention at this time will count.
During this month the fowls are as feverish
and fretful as child with the measles and
they need special attention to supply that
which is lacking In natures food for their
comfort.
To renew the many feathers of their
bodies calls for much in the way of food
stimulant. But few hens will lay during
this period, and there is little chance for
them to gain much flesh or fat-no matter
how well they may be fed few that
moult very slowly may get fat; If so, they
will be in fine condition for eating about
the time we want a salad for early winter.
Such hens make better salads than egg
producers. They rob the feather supply and
egg basket to fatten their carcass-as some
cows rob the milk pail for the same pur-
pose The thrifty, busy active hens are the
egg producers. The lazy fat ones are the
best to make use of on the table They
make the very best roasters, pot pies or
friccasees.
The hen that casts her coat quickly and
renews it after the fashion is what
might be called the business hem" and she
is usually the one to lay the most eggs
the year around Such hens should be
watched and cared for and kept for breed
ers, for they are generally certain to prO-
duce pullets like themselves. good, strong,
keeping. During this trying season of the
year they should have shelter from the
wet and cold comfortable place to roost
where II is dry and pleasant. A place that
Is well ventilated, not close or hot. but SO
| that the cold nights of autumn will not in
| jure them. Cold winds should not be al
| lowed 10 blow over them, as cold currents
| OF air or draughts play the mischief with
| them at this or at any time of the year
Inc greater variety of grain they can
have the better-if change at every meal,
| so much the better-wheat, oats. barley.
| screenings, cracked corn. buckwheat. some
| millet seed and some whole corn Ground
oats, wheat bran and middlings mixed will
heip them through the moult and into a
tonuition where egg production is has
| Tened. Nothing is better for them at this
ume or year than a mash of this sort
| Give them all they will eat of II at noon
and at night the whole and broken corn
and the small grain. Not more than one
nLth OF their entire ration should be corn;
anu at ieast one-tenth or little more
| should be meat of some kind
Fowls seem to relish a change of grain
some VIII eat one kind and some another
OUT OF mixed lot: but all will eat corn
|
For this reason 1t is best To give them
the other kinds OF grain in the morning
| when they are more likely to be hungry
| and the corn and wheat at night In this
way they Will be sure TO eat the other
grains which are good for them. But few
fowls Will eat oats and barley I'm the hull
or puckwheat when they can have all they
want to eat of corn and wheat: for this
| reason the oats, barley. buckwheat and
miiiet should be mixed for the morning
meal and the corn for the evening meal.
| When the small grains are thrown into
| the deep straw for them to dig after I'm
winter, II will keep them quite busy until
| noon; then a full meal of cooked vegeta-
| pies bran. ground oats and middlngs with
| about 4 o'clock later as NAV be 70 de-
| pending on the early or later coming of
night. When fed In this way We get the
run advantage OF all the food they receive