Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-08
FOWLS DURING MOULT
REQUIRE EXTRA CARE
Laying Usually Ceases When Los
ing Their Feathers; Danger in
Feeding Too Heavily.
Oil Meal and Beef Scraps May Be
Used to Improve the Condition
of the Birds.
BY A. G. SMITH.
Copyright, 1879

| Correct care of fowls during the
moulting period will go far toward in
surfing profitable laying in the second
year.
The moulting period is much longer
| than most amateurs suppose, as the
| first stage is likely to pass unnoticed.
At first q few of the larger feathers
| drop out, one or two at time, but as
| the season advances the moult be-
comes more rapid.
| While the fowls are in light moult
| the hens probably will continue to
| lay, but laying generally ceases when
heavy moulting begins. Prolonging the
| laying period not only retards the
moulting period, but it also Is likely
to result In loss of strength and vigor.
Moult Lasts Three Months.
Ordinarily the moult begins in mid
summer and continues about three
months, although the noticeable moult
may not last longer than six weeks.
A hen that begins to moult In July
should be newly fiedged in October.
The moulting period should be
period of rest for the reproductive or
gans, and it will be when the fowls are
not forced either at its beginning or
completion. Under such conditions ana
with proper care, hens usually Will pc
gin to lay in February. The eggs also
will be large, perfectly formed and
with good shells The fertility, hatch
ability and strength of the chicks VIII
be all that one can expect or desire.
Early Moulting Desirable.
When a large flock of hens is kept
over an early moult will. Of course, be
of advantage because early winter lay
ing is possible only when accompanied
by early moulting. This means late
summer or early fall moult, which is
natural with pullets that were Matched
fairly early and that have been kept
laying.
For birds Matched later and those
that for any reason moult In July,
forced moult is sometimes employed.
the hen being made to begin her mou!t
earlier than she would naturally. This
may be effected in several ways. some
of which are more rapid than others.
The advisability of this expedient has
often been questioned. Many maintain
that it Is harmful, and authentic rec
ords seem to prove that while the next
laying period may be advanced, the
egg yield for the year usually Is con-
siderably diminished. The higher price
however, for the reduced yield. Wheth-
err or not this is a harmful practice
depends considerably upon the rapidity
of the moult.
Securing Forced Moult-
The most radical method practiced
consists Of confining the hen and feed
ing her from one-quarter to one-half
of what she would ordinarily require.
Even this limited ration consists Of
the foods least fattening, such as oats
and wheat bran.
The production Of both feathers and
eggs requires much the same kind Of
nourishment. Thus. whether the hen
forms feathers or eggs. she must be
supplied with a small but appreciable
amount of mineral matter and liberal
supply Of protein, because feathers are
found to contain both mineral matter
and protein.
Condition Of the Skin.
A soft, oily skin is favorable to a
rapid and healthy growth Of feathers
and hens or other animals may be fed
to promote such a condition. To Sc
cure this liberal supply Of such fat
containing foods as beef scraps. oil
meal. ETC., is often included in rations
for moulting hens.
Oil meal is not especially palatable
and should be used sparingly, possibly
one part in sixteen or twenty of dry
mash as commonly compounded. With
the light and active breeds beef scraps
may be fed in hoppers, thereby effect
ing a saving. as fowls soon get suffi-
cient quantity and are not continually
picking over the dry mash for bits of
this animal food. wasting grain to save
scraps When mixed in mash, Is per
cent is a fair proportion.
The general welfare of the birds
should be looked after. Males should
be excluded from the pens. AS the
hens are timid and tender while the
new feathers are growing, fowls in
moult should not be caught. They
should be placed in building which
has been recently thoroughly cleaned
and disinfected with a mite extermi-
nator and should be thoroughly rid
of hodx lica hefora nnniltinfr hepina