Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-11-20
OUR FARMERS.
THE POULTRY YARD.
Winner Management.

oeep. They must then De coDHhed ou
limited space, and there is no ad-
vantage in giving them liberty. When
the snow melts the mud and slush are
also impediments, the quarters being
made damp from the mud being car
RED in by the birds. 1t is severe
ordeal on the fowls, which are nat
urally of active habit, and no eggs
can be expected from the hens if they
are thus exposed. 1t is expensive to
provide large buildings or covered
runs, and the majority of farmers
expect the hens to provide for them
selves to a certain extent, although
some farmers give their fowls better
care and attention. The farmers lose
more than they gain by being TOO
economical with their fowls in winter.
There is no reason why the hens
should not lay during the severest
weather, and some farmers get quite
supply of eggs during all seasons OF
the year. Eggs are at times worth
three or four cents each, and HOOK
of fifty hens, laying three eggs week
for each hen, will add larger sum to
the treasury than any cost that Is
| likely to be incurred. If the number
of eggs per hen is reduced to two per
week the loss is considerable. One
egg extra each week from each hen
may be the change to profit, and any
expense incurred in order to get as
many eggs as possible will be reward
ed in some manner. Management
does not consist in the method Ct
feeding only, nor does it depend upon
the kinds of food entirely. The polnt
is to keep the hens comfortable anu
to induce them to be as busy as pos
sible, In the wild or native state the
hen is in a country where snow IS
unknown, and the domestic hen sui
inherits some of the characteristics OF
the original stock. Very cold weather
is severely felt by poultry. Inc
combs of the cocks sometimes be-
come frozen and the hens will seeK
shelter In order to guard against colo
winds. When the ground is covered
with snow the hens are helpless ana
must confine themse Ives to some
location that has escaped the cover
!; ing of snow. They cannot get food,
and they will not lay because they
are struggling to prevent being frozen
to death. When they are obliged tc
roost outside they are tortured with
cold ard the fear of the natural enc
mics underneath. Il is due to the
Survival of the fttest" that they
exist at all during some seasons
When snowstorms occur space
should be cleared somewhere Tor the
hens, and they should be sheltered
Plenty Of food should be provided
and warm water given three times {
day. They should be given straw II
| which to scratch and their comfor
attended TO. II they are warm ant
in good condition they will lay during
the coolest days OF winUer.
Select Next Hvar's Turkeys.
The turkey hen eeloom begins t.
lay until the spring i- we'll opened
and she will then hatch her brood an
/; give her attention solely to tn
C chicks. In selecting the turkey hen
for the new year give the old hen
3 the preference, and use those tina
Ii have been successful the past yeal
Il The gobbler should in no manner b
, related to the hens, and should be a
early Matched male of two year
2 growth. He should be large an
5; strong, full of life, and free from
Y, indications of disease, as roup attach
4 turkeys, and the bird may be affecte
without strongly indicating the oil
: ease. Therefore il is best to sele'
N the breeders for next year, and haN
separate ward for all others, whel
a they may be fattened for market.
IN Thanksgiving Sales.
a A weeks heavy feeding of turke
inst before marketing it viii not on
e. add to its weight and quality but aif
enable it to bring higher price, an
n as Thanksgiving and Christmas ca
- - for a large pply of turkeys no bett
TO- time than the present for giving I'll
"a. birds all they can consume will oceu
&c Corhmeal mojstened with milk is
a good fattening food, and if the turk'
Ell; to lt lllj.eC sc a little cru
u tallow or fit of some. kind. Ca
should be taken to feed asmuch gre
food as the birds will accept, in ord
at to assist in giving quality to the ties
ng as turkey flesh very readily tax es
20 any favor fed to the birds.
&c; Windbreaks.
&c; If you. have an open yard Of y
3D. the vinds will sweep through in "
- ter and the hens may not be as co
aIs Portable So desired, eornstalks may
inn arranged on the north'and vest si'