Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-02-09
ITEMS ABOUT LAYERS
Endeavor to Have Hens and
PuIIets Laying Now.
TO Secure and Maintain Winter Egg
Production Few Things Extremely
observation-disclosures Have Feed and
Comfortable Quarters.

All who are making an effort to Sc
net as much as possible should do
everything possible to induce the hens
and pullets to begin laying now, and
then hold them to 1t through the win
ter months. They must be kept at
it; it is their mission In life, or at
least we should expect it to be. To
secure and maintain winter egg pro-
duction just few things are essen
tial, and they are extremely. essential
nice dry runs, good comfortable sun
ny roosting and scratching quarters,
and substantial food in sufficient vari-
ETY., writes F. j. Marshall in the South
ern Ruralist. We are not necessar-
lily in favor of the fancy tinkering,
coddling system, where more time and
money are spent upon them than the
eggs they are likely to lay are worth.
However, they must have shelter
from the cold winter storms and light,
airy places to scratch and feed during
the bad days that we do have in the
south, for a few days of exposure to
cold storms will shut them off from
laying, and the chances are that we
cannot get them started any more all
winter, 4 / have seen just such in
stances. About half of the south side
of each house should be open for sun
light and air; the rest of it boarded
up to keep out the heavy, driving
rains. The upper half next to the
roof Is the part that should be tight
Hung to this, and reaching to the floor,
should be strip of light canvas, to
be buttoned down in stormy weather
with wind and rolled up and strapped
in nice weather, or strong gunny
sack material will answer the purpose
where the canvas cannot be secured.
See that this scratching part of the
house is bedded with fresh and dry
chaff or straw at frequent intervals or
whenever 1t needs freshening.
This makes the place for throwing
the scratch food 1t is best where dirt
a few inches above the outside ground,
SO as to insure dry foundation at all
times. frequently dig small trench
around each house to take care of the
water. AS to feed, while we do not adj
vocate the feeding of mashes at all
seasons of the year, we do think 1t
mighty appetizing morning meal for
the hens on cold morning.
What is called the stock pot is a
good thing where there is a large fam
lily and good deal Of cooking going
on to save all the scraps of meat and
vegetables, pot liquor, grayies, etc.
Put this on the fire in the morning.
and heat 1t, thickening with meal, bran
and shorts, sailing and peppering
about as you would for the table; feed
warm but not hot A little beef scraps
added is good Where one does not
get scraps enough to amount to any
thing, it will pay to get some fresh
offaf from the meat shop and cook
with lot of water, to be thickened
as indicated. A few handfuls of
grain in the litter to cause them to ex-
ercise and get in good condition Is
good plan for early morning to be fol-
lowed in half hour with the mash
Let this mash be a light meal, to be
followed at noon with grain rations
Vegetables are very essential to health
and profit of the hen, and where they
are incorporated in the warm mash
all rich and good, but in addition to
this fresh cabbage, beets, carrots, ETC.,
should be hung in the runs, so the
fowls can peck at them as they swing
about, giving them exercise at the
same time Every effort should be put
forth to keep the hens and pullets at
work Smelling out the eggs when once
they are started during the early fall
and winter. February and March is
early enough to hatch pullets for win
ter layers the following season of the
American varieties. and April for the
laying breeds. If they are Matched
too early they commence to lay early
in the fall lay few eggs and quit
at least many of them will do that.
Then when cold weather comes on it
is hard to get them started again.
One secret of success is to make
your feeding appetizing by an occa-
sional change.