The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-10-01

late fall and early winter USUALLY
furnish cold weather. it is a per-
iod of extreme harosnlp tor farm
poultry unless they are properly
taken care of. The New York State
| College Of Agriculture has MADE
some interesting findings regard
ing the melting period OF fowls.
This NAV be summarized as fol-
lows:
i. The hen feathers more
onickly in those areas which pro-
?. From the incubator to the
laying period, chicks experience at
least four moltings, either par
TALLY or completely.
8. Hens frequently lay during
the summer while partially mott.
ing but seldom during the general
"g =. Young hens mott more
quickly than older ones.
in less time than those melting
earlier.
6, Hens melting very late give
a higher yearly production than
those melting earlier.
I. Hens lose in weight while
melting.
8. Broodiness appears to re-
tard melting.
9. Starving the hens appears
to increase broodiness.
10. Hens melting early re-
sumo production more quickly af.-
ter melting than those melting
later.
more eggs during early winter
than hens melting later:
t2. The most prolific hens
mott latest.
1t is thus seen that hens which
mott late are usually the heavy
producers. There is lesson In
this for every poultry keeper in
North Dakota. Take proper care
of the hens that mott late because
of the cold weather. Such hens
make excellent breeders in the
spring and should be properly
cared for. This can be done by
rutting them into the house ear
ly and not allowing them to suf-
fer from the cold winds.
The shedding Of feathers is a
heavy drain on the constitution OF
the fowl because it is necessary
to manufacture new coat. rhe
making of new feathers can be
greatly aided hv feeding highly
protein or meat foods. The hrdi-
nary grains like wheat, corn and
oats do not contain enough pro-
tein. Meat scraps from TIL. house
or commercial beef scraps are
necessary if best results are tn
be obtained. If a fowl is. thorough
ly chilled and thereby weakened
by late Noting during cold wca-
ther, she will find it difficult to re-
cuperate until late winter or early
spring. By giving her extra care
she can be started laying much
earlier in the winter.
Green Food for Poultry
During the late fall and early
spring the addition of green food
to the rations of the hens will
we'll repay the efforts of the poul-
try keeper. This can be furnished
| in many ways. Green cut alfalfa,
corn fodder, lawn clippings or
clover are excellent green foods.
If these are not available. roots,
such as mangles or turnips. are
very acceptable. Many good pOul-
try keepers feed both. This, of
course, is in addition to the regu-
lar grain rations. By using lit
| tie thought during the growing
season enough IF this material
can be cured in a dark room or
some place where light is exclud-
fed for winter consumption.
| Early Winter Laying
Late Matched bullets rarely lay
luntil the middle of the winter or
early spring. Chickens should be
Matched in April or May if they
are expected to furnish EGGS in
season in North Dakota is quite
short and it is otter difficult to
get fully matured pullets before
winter sets in. This can be done,
however. by early Matching and
proper feeding of the puilets dur
ling the later summer and early
fall. II the puHets do, not receive
itheir proper growth by the first
dOf November and show signs of
laying it is doubtful whether they
Twill lay to any extent until the
following spring. The cockerels
should be separated from the
pui1ets as soon as possible thus
giving the pullets plenty of op-
! portupity to deVelop size. II they
are allowed ID mix iRdiscriminate-
" with the old hens and cocker
nla thew are 7f8h1a TX no af,,nfo 4 e,