Evening journal., 1913-03-04
WINTER EGG PROFITS
Hens Should Have Been In Good
Condition In Fall.
Fowls Should Not Be Allowed to Eat
Grain as Faat az They Can Con-
sumo Il, But Rather Made TO
Scratch for It.
An M. nf. cnANnLnRl

As much depends upon the condi-
ton Of the hens themselves as any
thing else. II you are expecting the
winter eggs You should have seen to
It that your hens were not running
wild during the late fall, getting too
much corn about the fields or hog
pens. or that they are not starving
when you think they are picking up
good living for themselves after the
grain has all been put away for the
winter
For many years kept only a small
flock of hens and paid little attention
to them except during the winter.
got, OF course. very few eggs and
found that n 1 wished this much
sought winter supply I must look clos
er to business
tried shutting my hens In large
park during the month of November
and feeding them cooked vegetables,
milk, a little OF everything in the
shape OF grain. instead OF letting them
run TO the corn houses; that Is, all
but those I wished to market. and
those confined In a large coop with
a floor in it. so they could not do too
much scratching. and fed them more
grain and less milk. plenty Of clean
water and usually two weeks would
find them in good condition for the
market
This. I hnd, pays better than al
lowing the hens you wish to keep over
/ remain with those who are going to
/ sell, since the feeding methods differ.
A hen should not be fat when the
cold weather sets IN any more than
she should be- starved. She should be
fed according 70 the egg-prodncing
method, and with me that method Is
regular meals, plenty Of variety in
food and a good chance to scratch for
her living.
never allow hen to eat grain as
fast as she can pick It up. but make
her hunt for Il In good pile of litter.
Soft food for breakfast, fed at six
o'clock, milk and little wheat OF rye
for dinner, and supper at four O'Clock
, Of corn, two quarts 90 forty hens
This may seem a small ration, bu
where three meals are given you vii
| find that IL is enough and If more 4
allowed them there win be fewer eggs
, Some think Il better to feed al
small grain and no corn. but In the
cool weather l find that corn satisfies
the fowls much better and IL should
be fed as hot as they can stand It.
Never expect real success with win
] a.. 81
mill A bone mill can be had for 81
and will pay for itself in six months
Bone meal should be a part OF every
breakfast in the hen roost and the
oyster shells and sMmmiik are quite
as essential.
Meat is good. but never throw the
carcass Of a dead animal into the
chicken house unless you want to
create disease germs and impure eggs
Keep the carcass frozen out OF doors
and cut from it a small ration Of meat
at a time. and see that Il is all eaten
fresh.
Never expect winter eggs in a dark
damp, chilly coop Have plenty o
windows and fresh air There is
nothing better than fresh air anC
sunshine. Keep the house clean
Every morning while the flock are a
their breakfast take a shovel ans
scrape up the droppings under thu
perches. Take care that they do no
use the nests as roosting places, an'
always change tho straw in the nest
= and get fresh straw or, better still
clover hay scatterings for litter a
{ least as often as once a week.