Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-05-18
Way to Care for Laying Hens.

---NN'SS NAAS nous " LAY ICSNAS1AA -
during cold weather we must provide
everything that is necessary to then
health ami comfort and most of the
requirements may be grouped under
three heads-aamely, warmth, cleanli-
ness and proper food, says poultry
eNper, from Ohio in the New York
Tribune Farmer | have never hal
difficulty in solving the Ques,io OF
warmth alone, but to construct my
houses so they will be warm and al
the same time we'll ventilated has
troubled me often. have tried
several modes of ventilation, but none
proved satisfactory. as they caused
more or less OF draught on the fowls,
so now | have no ventilation, but shut
the houses up tight at night and give
plenty of fresh air and sunlight
through the day. have followed this
plan for three years, and the results
have been entirely satisfactory, The
fowls have been in the best of health
ana have made an egg record Of which
| am proud. One two yearold hen
laid 81 eggs in December, 1908, and
while this is, of course, an exception
the other hens made very good
showing all winter.
II too many fowls are no crowded
into one house enough fresh air will
be admitted, no matter how dehtly the
house is closed, and in the morning
il should be opened, when the
chickens are fed, and given thorough
airing. Draughts must be particularly
guarded against during the next few
months, as they will soon cause colds,
which, owing TO the variableness of
the weather are apt to develop into
more serious diseases. Notice the
fowls every day at feeding time, ano
If any show signs of sickness shut
them up away from the other fowls to
prevent infection. ! have noticed in
many tlocks some hens that seem able
TO Withstand practically all diseases
that IS they are only slightly affected,
often scarcely enough to notice il, ex
cept upon close examination These
individuals are a menace to the other
hens. as they may escape notice and
spread disease among those that are
not 50 strong.
Prevention is preferable to cure,
aad cleanliness will go a long way
toward accomplishing it. Unsanttary
quarters probably are responsible for
more trouble than all other causes
combined, yet there is no source, for a
little labor every day will keep the
poultry-houses and yard clean. To be-
gin with, the houses should be con-
structed simply, and the nests, roosts
and other furnishing should be remov-
able so the house can be most con.
veniently cleaned. 1t will not often he
necessary to remove everything of the
house is attended to as it should be.
My houses are cleaned daily, the re-
moval of droppings requiring only a
few minutes; nesting material does
not require renewal oftener than once
in three weeks. When | put clean
straw in the nests sprinkle it liberal
Iy with insect powder as a safeguard
against lice The roosts are frequent.
~ sCraped and oiled, and the litter
W III IL NoNSIo lllC uOOl 10 IblbW6u dS
il become soiled.
On many farms the pOultry-house is
made a catchall for every description
of rubbish If a hoe of a broom has
served its usefulness it is tossed into
one end of the house. Boards, chains
and worn-out implements are added to
the heap, until there is a tangled mass
that is an ideal hiding place for all
sorts Of vermin. Rats and weasels Will
make it their home and prey upon
the young chickens In my trips
through Ohio and Indiana have
found a large number Of the farm
poultry-houses in this condition. Rub.
bish must be disposed of somewhere,
but ii should not be near the poultry,
house.
feed my hens a great variety OF
food-wheat, oats, corn, millet, meat
and table scraps, green bone and all
sorts of green food. The hens will not
do their best if limited to one kind of
food continuously They must have
variety, and remember they require
more food in winter than in summer.
and that there is little danger OF theh
becoming too fat if they are kept
busy. Every evening l scatter a smalr
quantity of grain in the litter where
the chickens can find 1t as soon as
they leave the roost in the morning,
and scratching for this keeps them
warm and busy until the regular feel.
Ing time, when warm mash is fcd
At noon a small quantity Of grain isl
given them and the evening meal isl
whole grain warmed, | do not leav.
water in the drin' ing fountains toll
freeze. but empty them as soon as the
chickens drink all they want For
green food | use whatever vegetables
have the most Of; also clover. cut
and scaldei usually depend mainly
upon cabbage and lcets, and know OF
no other vegetables that viii g.va
more satisfactory results,
a Queer Farm.