The Glenwood post., 1915-12-25
w1NTER1Na POULTRY

of poultry during the winter all houses
and coops should be put in good condi-
tion, only healthy fowls placed in the
buildings, and good care given to the
poultry. The houses should be thor
oughly cleaned, disfhfected, and made
tight for winter. If the house has a
dirt floor, it is well to remove 3 or 4
inches from the top and substitute
fresh gravel or sand. If the floor is
cement or wood, remove all litter and
dirt and put in / or inches of fresh
straw or litter Be sure that the house
is tight on three sides and that there
is no chance for draft to strike the
hens. If hens roost or are placed in
a draft during the fall and winter,
colds are sure to develop, which may
result in roup and other troubles. The
south side, or front, of the poultry
house may be left comparatively open,
but should be under control, so that
the openings may be closed gradually
as the weather becomes cold Have
muslin curtains in the front of the
house, or leave window partly open
even on the coolest nights to allow
some ventilation in the house. Fowls
will stand considerable cold air pro-
vided it is dry, and ventilation will
keep the air thoroughly dry in he
house.
The pullets should be brought in of
the range and put in winter quarters,
but before they are mixed with The
older fowls be sure that the hens are
banded or that the web of the foot is
punched in some way so as to distin.
guish between the pullets and the hens.
In this way the older stock may be
culled out whenever it appears desira.
BILE, and the young hens kept for further
laying. Gull the chickens which arc
brought into the laying house carefully,
and fatten and market all chickens
which are small, poorly developed, or
in poor condition. These small, poorly
developed chickens are apt to catch
cold if put in with the other poultry,
and develop diseases which quickly
spread through the flock. Market all
surplus cockerels or older male birds
which are not desired for breeding or
not wanted for later market.
Feed the grain in a deep litter on
the floor and make the hens exercise
for all of their grain. The mash may
be fed either wet or dry, and should be
so regulated that the fowls will get
about equal parts of mash and of the
scratch grains. 1t is necessary to give
the fowls plenty to eat to get good re.
suits, but the birds should always be
eager for each feed. In cold weather
feed about one-third of the scratch
grains in the morning and two-thirds
at night. In this way the hens are
forced to exercise more than if they
receive all the grain they desire at thu
morning feed. Scratch grains, mash OF
ground grains, animal protein, green
feed, grit and shell should be supplied
in the winter. A good scratch mix
ture may be made of equal parts, by
weight, of cracked corn, wheat and
oats; and mash may be made of tw1
parts corn meal and one part each ct
wheat bran, wheat middlings, and beet
scrap Green feed ,such as cabbages
mangel wurzel beets, cut alfalfa, o.
sprouSed oats should be supplied to re-
place the green feed which the fowls
bi We ocen securing in the fields; and
beef scraps, skim milk, cut green bone
or similar feed is needed to replace the
bugs which the fowls have been get
ting on the range. Beef scraps or feed
of this nature is very essential in Sc
curing good supply of eggs during the
winter months.
Clean the dropping boards at least
once week, and spray the roosts witt
kerosene or some commercial prapara
tion for killing mites once monti
during the winter. Have good sup
ply of sand or dry dirt on hand to use
on the dropping boards during th'
winter.
If any of the birds develop colds
put as much potassium parmanganau'
as will remain on the surface of dino
into a gallon of water and keep this
mixture in their drinking water fo
several days, or until the symptoms o
the colds have disappeared. Remov'
any sick birds from the flock as soo'
as they are noted and treat them ii
eoops by themselves, or kill and bur.
them if they are not worth treating.
"a.