Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-10-24
OUR FARMERS.
PREPARE FOR WINTER EGGS.


pullets that are to be depe nded upon
for winter layers need the best OF care
to mature them and get them into
good condition for a profitable WIN
ter's work.
1t is now time TO begin the WORK OF
getting winter eggs. It is only pos
sible to obtain good results in colo
weather when the conditions can De
controlled. have found it the case
30 often in the past that / do not fear
to state it as truth, that pullets VIII
not begin to lay until they are wen
matured and in good condition OF
flesh. They need not be fat, but they
should carry a normal amount OF
flesh at the beginning of winter.
And, to be profitable throughout the
year, they need to be kept in that
condition.
Now that the cockerels have been
disposed of or separated from the rest
of the flock, it will be best to give the
pullets as free a run as possible. On
many farms they can be allowed prac-
tically free range. It is not best to
allow them the dooryard, lawn or
house, but they can often be allowed
| free range over the fields without
harming anything, and with much
benefit to themselves.
The good results come not so much
from the food found in the fields, al
though this is often considerable, as
from the increased exercise and its
resultant hardness of frame and in
crease of constitutional vigor.
There should not be an attempt TO
economic on food at this season, but
rather an effort to supply the flock
with everything to make growth and
to develop the powers of egg making
1t is not wise to save one dollar IN
feed and lose ten in eggs as result
of such mistaken economy. Yet very
many men have done this and then
wondered why they did not get a
winter supply of eggs.
Where it is not possible 20 allow
full liberty it can often be arranged
so as to increase the yards and thus
furnish new and larger range during
the fall months. Where neither of
these ways are advisable, and it is
necessary to keep the pullets confined
in small yards, there must be an es-
pecial effort put forth to furnish the
needed food in the right variety and
in the right proportions to secure
growth, maturity and health.
The one great lack of most focks in
confinement, whether in houses or
yards, is green food. This must be
furnished in such abundance that the
flock can have all they need, which is
all they will eat every day. Nearly
all kinds of green stuff will be greedi-
ly eaten by hens and chicks when
confined on small range. In recent
number of The Tribune Farmer Mr.
Gregory, of Massachusetts, called the
attention of readers to the value OF
weeds as a source of supply for this
purpose. 1t is a cheap and available
supply on most farms and village lots.
and can often be utilized to good ad-
vantage.
However, with large run or free
range, there will be no necessity oil
furnishing green food until cold
weather or snow keeps the birds in
the house the most of the time.
Under any conditions of range, the
feed of growing pullets should con
sist largely of oats. Even as much az
% per cent oats is not too much wber
the market conditions will allow it al
, a profit. Where the grain is grown
on the farm, it can be fed in the straw
; with good results, and thus furnish
, work for the flock as we'll as saving
cost of thrashing, while the straw cal
be raked up and used for bedding o.
other purposes.
] Eggs in winter depend upon the tal
! care of the flock, fully as much a
f upon the winter care. In fact, with
\ out the fall care the winter care vii
e not result in profit. There must b
d we'll grown, mature and health.
+ pullet to respond to the good care
t winter, else such care will be throw
; away.
r. Possibly, there yet remain fey
= men and women who believe that it
!. better not to try to force hens tn
i first part of the winter as they wi
IS lay enough more later to more tina
e make good the loss. To such I wi
Il say, the winter layer is the summe
- and fall layer when rightly handled
2 Begin now to use her right for an al
5. year-round egg yield.-E. G. Dow
T.