The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-08
MOULTING SEASON
Is TIME FOR CARE
Attempts TO Keep Hens Lay
ing Until Late in Summer
Are Dangerous.
FOWLS ARE WEAKENED

BY A.. e. SMITH.
Jealous endeavor to prolong the laying
season is often responsible for constitu.
tional weakness and curtailed production
of eggs in winter. Correct care OF to
laying fowls during the moulting perlod
will 20 far toward insuring profitable
laying In the second year.
The moultine period is much lonce"
than most amateurs suppose. as the FIRE
stage Ii likely to pass unnoticed. 4, is
"A gradual process and starts slowly. AT
hrst "A few Of the larger feathers drop
out. one or two n a time. but az the
season advances the iioult becomes moe
rapid.
While the fowls are in light moult ~.
hens probably will continue to lay. bu
laying generally ceases when heavy
moulting begins. This is when the hen
drops the mass Of small or body feathers.
P~rolonging the laying period not onll
retards tire moulting period. but Il ais,
Is likely to result in loss OF strength
and vigor.
Ordinarily the moult begins In mid
ummer and continues from first to
last about three months. although the
noticeable rAoult may not last, longer
than six weeks. A hen that begins TO
mouit in July should be newly fedgej
in october. II the moult Is delayed tHe
fowls affected will be exposed to csnsid.
cradle inclement weather without nat
ural protection. and unless u~nusally
comfortable quarters are provided they
are almost certain to suffer from dis
ease from such exposure.
Late mounting nearly always Is the re-
suit OF a desire to get the largest re-
turns at the moment. even at the expense
oil tn. future. But is a late moul, eco
nomical? True. eggs in summer bring
an attractive ~price-much more than
during the spring, yet not as much as
during winter. All recognize that it is
more difficult to make hens lay during
winter than to make pullets yield 4
large supply. and for that reason mos;
Of the old flock are disposed of just be-
fore the period of heavy or rapid moult
TIE few that are not sold are usually
selected birds and held for next sea
sons breeders. for which use they are
naturally admirably adapted.
The moulting period should he a pc
riod OF rest for the reproductive organs.
and It will be when the fowls are not
forced either at It's beginning or COM
pletion. Under such conditions and
with proper care, hens usually Will be-
gin to lay In February. The eggs also
will be large, perfectly formed and with
good shells. The fertility. h~atchabilty
and strength OF the chicks will be all
that one can expect or desire.
When a large flock of hens ls kept
over. an early moul, will. OF course. he
OF advantage. because early winter Law
ing Is possible only when accompanied
by early moulting. This means a late
GUNNER or early fall moult. which is
natural with pulle;s that were haiched
fairly early and that have been kept
laying.
For birds Matched later and those that
for any reason moult in July a forced
moult Is sometimes employed, the hen
being made to begin her moult earlier
than she would naturally. This may pe
effected In several ways. some of which
are more rapid than others. The advis-
ability of this e%xpedient often has been
questioned. Many maintain that II is
harmful. and authentic records seem 10
prove that while the next Ia aging period
may be advanced. the egg yield FOR the
year usually Is diminished considerably.
This might be expected. inasmuch ms the
rest period Is shortened by high feeding,
The higher price received for eggs COM
pensates In part, however, for the re-
duced yield Whether or not this is a
harmful practice depends considerably
upon the rapidity OF the moult.
The theory of forced moulting Is hat
by reducing flesh sufficiently. the feath-
ers become dead and loosen. and, there
fore. drop out more quickly. then by
feeding literally. new feathers are
grown rapidly. the body built IN and q
laying condition restored
The most radical method praStiscd
consists OF combining 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
Roth males and females moult earlier u
they have been confined for a consider
able time. Fanciers who want TO exhibit
AZ the fall and early winter shows rake
use of this fact to assist them In getting
candidates for these honors in fresh. new
plumage,
The production Of both feathers and
eggs requires much the same kind II
nourishment, which is perhaps the real
explanation OF why hens IL heavy moult
seldom lay. II a ration sufficiently rich
to form both feathers and Eggs rapidly
was provided. the digestive machinery
would soon collapse and neither feathers
nor eggs would be formed. Thus,
whether the hen forms feathers or egg
she must he supplied with n small but
appreciable amount OF mineral matter
and a liberal supply OF protein. because
feathers are found to contain both min
eral matter and protein. II the be-
comes apparent that feathers and eggs