The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-07-27
Summer Care of Laying Flock,

Summer Care of Laying Flock.
BY VIM. c. Monahan, Extension Instructor
in Poultry at u. of N.
Most hen-yards are so small and in
such poor state of cultivation that as
the summer advances they become bare
and barren of any vegetation which is
of value to hens. This condition of the
yards, together with the neglect to re-
plenish the litter in the houses, make
rather unfavorable conditions for egg
production. The scratch grain, instead
of being scattered in the litter. as it ia
in the wintertime, is often thrown on
the bare ground where the birds quickly
pick it up without having to work for it.
and then spend the rest of the day loung
ing around the yard without anything in
particular to do. Consequently they fail
to get sufficient exercise to keep them in
good health and encourage heavy egg
production.
These conditions may be readily cor
rected and usually with very crafty
ing increase in egg production. The first
measure is to ventilate the house as well
as possible. If it is not of the open
front type the windows should be entire.
door or ventilator should be opened be-
low the droppinR-board in the rear of the
house to insure good circulation of air.
Then six or eight inch litter of straw
or planer shavings or, better still, mix
ture of these two materials, should be
spread on the floor and the scratch grain
scattered in it, in the morning and at
noon, just as in the winter time so that
the birds will have to work for 1t and
thus secure ample exercise.
This method of summer management
embraces the only real advantage of the
SO called "no yard" system of poultry
keeping, which at present is being given
much publicity by some poultry concerns.
The success of the no yard system is at
tributed to the better housing conditions
which it requires and the additional at
tention the birds are apt to receive when
in confinement. If, however, in addi-
ton to good housing. the hens also have
the liberty of yard, where they can
dig in the dirt and lounge in the shade,
they enjoy distinct advantage.
Selecting Yearling Hens to Hold Over for
Breeders.
For years it has been a common prac-
tice of poultrymen to keep over pen
or two of yearling birds to use as breed
ers. These hens ordinarily loaf from
the time they moult, whenever it may
be, until the following spring. In conse-
quence of this rest, they come into lay
ing with good sized egg having strong
vigorous germ which enjoys better
reputation for Matching than do the eggs
of pullets which have become somewhat
exhausted by heavy winter production.
However, 1t must be realized that the
loaf these birds take, during the very
time when commercial eggs bring the
highest price, is an expensive one. For
this reason, many poultry-men prefer to
occupy their housing room only with pull
let's from which, if matured by October,
they may expect good winter produc-
ton. The following spring they breed
from the strongest and most vigorous of
these. This practice is undoubtedly the
most profitable one for people who keep
fiocks of one hundred birds or less. Large
poultry plants and ones which make a
eggs are justified in the expense and ad-
ditional bother of holding over yearling
hens.
The method of choosing the highest
producing birds when trapnests are not
used was outlined in the February letter
of this series. At this time of the year,
all pullets which began to lay early last
fall and have kept at it consistently since
then are quite exhausted of any yellow
colorlng in their beaks and shanks. This
is much more reliable test of produc-
ton than is the time of moult which de-
ponds more on other physiological fac
tors. However, large percent of the
highest producers.do not moult until fall
and are likely to continue laying until
pretty well rid of feathers.
Thinning Out Non Producers.
In conjunction with the selection of
the few to save as breeders comes the
rejection of many in order to make room
for the maturing pulets. Those which
have not the tendency to lay, and all birds
showing. constitutional weakness, should
be marketed early in order to save feed
and take advantage of the higher prices
on fowl An examination cf the flock
will reveal many "boarders, whose Law
bones are close together and rigid. These
birds should be culled out from time to
time, at intervals of two weeks or so,
and sent to market.
Some of them will have stopped laying
in good flesh but others may be improved
upon. Inc expensive part OF the anil
NAL, the frame, is already built and the
profitable part, the finish, should be sup
piled. This is done with few days of
skillful feeding. They had best be put
in coops or small pens and starved day
to stimulate hunger for their new ra ton.
A good fattening feed for hens consists
of a mixture of equal parts middlings,
or feed flour, and cornmeal, mixed with
mil for nd
what will be cleaned up in twenty min
utes. Care must be taken not to leave
feed before birds that are fattening,
otherwise they will go 'off feed" and
fail to make gains. 1t is not advisable
to supply hard grains nor to continue the
feeding for too long period; ten days or
two weeks is usually sufficient time to
finish off mature fowl. The secret of
eattening is to get the birds hungry in
the beginning and then to keep them
greedy for each meal.