The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-28
HOVERSTAD ON
POULTRY RAISING.
SUPERINTENDENT or NORTH pA-
koTA FARMERS INSTITUTES
TELLS HOW TO MAKE HENS
LAY IN THE WINTER As WELL
AS SUMNER.

I. A. Hoverstad, superintendent of
the N. d. farmers institute, gave an
address on poultry raising at the Han
nah farmers institute meeting. Feb.
L. A short review OF 1t is given be-
low:
My first observation was that the
mems would lay in the summer but not
In the winter. The question then came,
Why? One condition that differs In
summer and winter is Temperature Ii
VIII not, however, be necessary to
maintain a summer temperature in
winter. In fact ell that is necessary
is to keep the temperature uniform and
above freezing. There are several ways
OF building. Double walls with straw
between, plastered, and the single wall
with paper have all proved satisfac-
tory. The plastered house costs more
but il very good. It is easy to keep
sanitary and holds the heat well. The
agricultural college at Fargo is work
ing out some experiments on the best
and cheapest way to build hen houses
and any one contemplating building
had better write and get the latest
ed a little above the ground SO as to
make sure of good drainage. A house
is by 16 feet is good size for fifty
hens. IL more birds are to be kept
1t is best to have a separate room for
each fifty.
Light needs to be provided, and for
the room 1e by is, two windows, each
with nine panes Of glass 10 by IL inches
is very satisfactory, and they should
be placed high up so that the sun can
shine far into the house. Too many
windows are Objectionable as the house
will warm up too much in the day time
and cool at night, bringing about too
much variation in temperature.
Fresh air is also very important
and a good way to ventilate is to make
an opening 1 by 2 feet covering II
with burlap. This will allow of the
passing in and out of the air but will
not allow any drafts. II this does not
ventilate enough, as on warm day
open a window and IL the wind should
blow make a screen and cover 1t with
burlap and place in the open window.
Feed Is another important consid-
GRAFTON. In the summer the hens have
free access TO bugs, worms, green food
and seeds and these or a substitute
need to be supplied for the winter
Green bone cut up fine will serve fol-
the animal food though meat scraps
are more convenient as they come in 8
form ready to feed. Mangels make
good substitute for the green food
they are easily raised and not hart
to keep In place Of the seeds mix
ture consisting of one-third wheat ant
the rest made up of barley and oat
answers very well. A good way to fur
nish the wheat is in the bundle. ]
the grain is threshed, then scatter I
among some straw so that the hen
will have to scratch for 1t. Give
bran mash twice a week.
| "a box Of road dust should be places
| be placed where the sun will shine i
Il for the hens to dust in.
/ Cracked oyster shell should be pro
vided as it supplies shell forming ma
terial. Crystal grit will take the plac
Of gravel.
"Whitewash the inside OF the poultr
house at least once a year. Go owe
the roosts once in a while with mix
ture consisting Of nine parts kerosin
and one part carbolic acid. Clean on
the droppings every day and change tn
straw in the nests occasionally"