The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-01-01
WINTER LAYING.
Leo c. Reynolds Writes on the Care
of Poultry i'm Cold Weather.

Many farmers carry the impress
sion that in order to get winter eggs
they must provide warm quarters for
their fowls. Then in attempting to
make the quarters fit their ideas they
err in failing to comprehend that
protection against drafts and vari-
able weather is far more important
than the matter of maintaining cer-
tain temperature in poultry house.
Experience has shown that natural
dryness is of more Importance than
artificial heat, for, as a general rule,
where an artificial temperature is
maintained dampness is more or less
in evidence.
Satisfactory results cannot be OBJ
tanned unless the poultry house is
located where there is good natural
drainage. If upon soil that remains
saturated with water during the win
ter months it is impossible to have
dry wholesome conditions. If pos
sible it is advisable to have the floor
of the house at least s or 10 inches
above the level outside, so there will
be no danger of the water that comes
from the melting snow reaching the
ground Immediately under the house
and making it damp.
The building should face the south
if possible. Under no circumstances
should there be a door or window
on the north side. In my opinion
there is danger of having too much
sunlight as we'll as of having not
enough. Excessive radiance has
tendency to cause extreme variations
in temperature, something that
should be avoided. 1t is not a good
plan to encourage fowls being fed
for winter eggs to take long sun
baths as they influence the tempera-
ture of the body for the time being
and later cause chills.
In one Of my poultry houses !
have, during the past two winters re-
moved the sash from two 1-2x3
TT. windows on the south side and
substituted muslin. Last winter
did not put the sash back even dur
ing the coolest weather, and at no
time did / find any moisture in the
poultry house. The fowls in this
house laid splendidly all winter.
long. ] did not notice any evil
dence of the fowls suffering from the
cold. This winter I shall try the
muslin on all my poultry houses.
The muslin promotes circulation of
air, at the same time totally elimin-
ating drafts.
The temperature of the poultry
house during the winter months
should be kept as even as possible.
To secure this condition it is not adj
visable to resort to any artificial
means of controlling it. If the house
is kept closed it will collect moisture,
which influences tho temperature
and more or less impairs the health
of the fowls. There is nothing that
will check winter egg production so
quickly as a damp, chilly atmosphere
SO long as the house is free from
dampness and the atmosphere dry
there is little to fear.
The care of fowls receive also in
fuences the production Of winter
eggs. 1t is the busy hen that lays
and pays for her keeping. 1t must
be remembered that the hen requires
a wide range of digestible elements
If she is to produce eggs. Corn is
not sufficient and should not be fed
more than once daily. "A warm
mash, composed Of equal parts wheat
bran and middlings and one-third
corn meal makes an excellent morn
ing ration. With young pullets just
being developed I find that warn,
mash in the morning, for the first
six weeks after being confined to
their winter quarters, encourages