Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-02-06
Let Them Hustle for Them
selves.

snail labor during the favorable
months of summer and recuperate
while conditions are less favorable
during winter. SO well has this plan
been worked out, that he who under
takes to modify it encounters num-
erous opposing influences. However,
painstaking poultrymen have work
ed out methods by which nature is
induced to reserve her machine hav-
ing the period of recuperation come
in summer when the price Of egg
produce is low Under proper man
agement this scheme has proved sue
cessful and in many instances very
profitable.
To what extent the average farm
er can engage in winter egg produc-
ton and be assured of fair compen-
sation depends in a large measure
upon conditions, however, after sew
eral years experience | believe far
greater number could profitably en-
gage in the business. During the
winter months eggs command high
! prices and so far as the market is
concerned, it is steady.
Successful winter egg production
| is based upon a few fundamental
laws that must be considered. The
breed of fowls used is very import
ant, but as we must take conditions
as we find them upon the average
farm, we will here consider winter
egg production simply from the
farmers point of view. The poultry |
house need not be an expensive or
elaborate structure so long as it pos
sessess certain characteristics. It
must be located upon slightly elevat-
ed ground so as to insure good drain
age and dryness. There are in
stances where slight excavations can
be made for protection, but good
drainage should always be kept in
mind. Dryness is one Of the most
important requisites of a poultry
house where winter egg production
is to be carried on. know of no
other one thing that will stop hens
from laying quicker than damp
poultry house. Unless properly To-
Gated it is simply impossible to main
tain dryness.
Ventilation is important, impure
air is productive of dampness and of
unhealthy conditions. No one can
expect good results from fowls du-
ring winter unless supplied with
fresh air. There are several good
systems, but have been we'll pleas
ed with the one l have in use. The
ventilator is located in the center of
the building and leads by means
Of branches to each end of the build
ing. Two branches are at each end
which open at the bottom or near the
floor. Here the impure air finds exit
and fresh air is brought in from the
top by means of another similar sys-
TEN. This method of ventilation
works we'll and l have never been
troubled with dampness in my poult-
ry house.
The feed supplied the flock has
much to do with results, successful
poultrymen differ slightly as to the
nature of food during the winter lay
ing season. have shifted my meth
DDS several times, but have come to
the conclusion that better results are
realized by sticking to one system.
My present method that is giving
good results consists first of plenty
of litter to scratch in. 1t may con-
sist of straw or leaves so long as
light and fine. My first feeding in
the morning is warm wheat bran
mash, sufficiently damp to steam
we'll, but not so water can be squeez-
ed out. Don't feed slushy food to
laying hens. This feed is supplied in
troughs. Great care is exercised |
not to feed more than fowls will |
readily consume. desire them to |
be hungry after feeding. Early in
the morning or the previous evening
after the fowls have gone to roost
| scatter through the litter wheat
screenings stirred in by means of a
fork. When / leave the house in the
evening draw the curtains over the
windows SO as to keep it dark until a
little past daybreak. Then / raise
the curtains and feed my bran mash
before the fowls have found the