The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-09-12
Our Poultry NE
Department ~''s1s
Varied Food For Winter
BERTHA NJ. TYSON, Editor

At this season OF the year we should
be looking out" for a supply oi foods
oi as many varieties as 1t is possible
for us to get. Ii IS great aid in egg
production TO change the food oiter
during the winter.
Green food is very essential and we
should provide for it in some form or
other: il is more often fed in the shape
Of cabbages or mangel-wurzels than in
any other way. but there is no better
winter green food for fowls than the
heads and leaves OF clover left on the
barn floor after the hap is packed or
where the hay is thrown down for
feeding the stock.
Being dry it is a good plan to pour
boiling water on the clover heads,
sprinkle little salt over it and cover
the vessel in which it is placed, allow
ing il 10 steam several hours before
using. then mix il with meal oi one
kind or another enough to form a
mash. prefer to feed masl.es in the
morning and grain at night
Cabbage and mangel-wuriel are so
easy To feed. requiring no preparation
but to split in hall and suspend from a
looped string about the height OF the
heads OF the fowls, that they appeal to
many as being preferable. One man
cut west recommends baPging the beets
and keeping them on the barn floor
first placing hay underneath where they
are to be placed, and then putting hay
overtop, in this way they are kept from
freezing and being in the bags are easy
10 handle
4 pocket al fine mesh wire on the
side OF the hen house is handy way
10 feed green food. the fowls pick il
through the openings in the wire and
when fed this way there is very little
waste
Sunnowcr seed is very rich food
and i given two or three times dur
ing the week in winter will be found to
be very beneficial; il is too strong n
food to be fed too often or too liberal
". Those who have raised sunnowcrs
had better keep a close watch on them
or the gold-fnchcs will have harvested
the crop for them. | had not been to
look NJ mine for few days and was
surprised 10 find the mcrricst little
gold finch picnic in the Sunnowcr row:
they seemed to be enjoying il 50 much
and they were such beautiful little
birds ! hcsitatcd before deciding to
spoil their fun. but when found they
had harvested fully onc-hali oi the
smaller heads ! thought we better re-
move the others
To the regular staple grains-corn.
wheat. oats we may add kailir corn
huckwhcat. millct. etc. and in this way
make M quite 4 varied bill OF fare for
the winter ration Then Il we do as
the managing housckccpcr does to
keep change ever before her guests.
we can arrange to feed corn in the
evening, wheat and oats in the morn
lrg, buckwlcat The next evening. and
SO on. slightly changing il from time to
time so as to keep up interest in what
is coming next: you know how much
pleasantcr il is 10 all oi MS IL We don't
Just know what We are TO have for din
ner.
have given YOU above the green
and the grain foods. or some OF them
hut we must not overlook the fact that
fowls must have meat food to furnish
the proper ration and to take the place
of the bugs and worms they get during
the summer. So we must give them
becfscraps. ground bone or meat in
some shape
In order To have hens lay in winter
1t is necessary to make the conditions
under which they are kept as near like
those existing in April and Nav. when
they are in the best laying condition.
ard to do this the must have var
icty n food and comfortable house
take il for granted that my read
crS have grit" and that they will see
that their fowls are supplied; also that
charcoal is given them and fresh water
IN a clean receptacle is ever before
them