Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-20

WINTER eggs are the goal Of the poultry
raiser no matter whether he is an ANA
teur or a professional. for it is the win
Ter eggs that bring the high prices and
mean proht to the man who makes his
llNinS raising poultry and economy to
the one who raises chickens for eggs for
his own use. 1t is a common saving that
"NerybodN's hens lay eggs in the spring
when eggs are plentiful and low in
price, but winter eggs are only for the
few wise ones who give their hens
proper care.
The first step toward procuring them
is to consider the history OF the hen
herself Her own record for health must
he good. preferably with never a sick
day against her from the time she was
hatched She should have been hatched
in the early spring so that she has fin
shed her growth and is fully matured
before the cold weather of fall sets in
Pullets that We're Matched in the sum
mcr and fall never grow 20 full size and
seldom do much, if any, winter laying
the first Year Of their lives Even if
they lay the first winter. the eggs will
lie small. Then hen must be we'll cared
for all her life 1t is useless to expect
that even the best OF last minute care
to lot of fowls that have had little or
no attention all spring, summer and fall
VIII produce a good winter egg yield.
Better dispose OF all sickly and dwarfed
stock and keep only those that show
vigor and are fully matured.
PROPER HOUSING A PAYING IN
VESTMENT
roost in the trees cannot he made even
To pay for their feed in winter, simply
because their entire energy will be re-
| CURED TO keep warm in such quarters.
| They will wait to do their LAYING until
! spring comes But do not infer that
warmth alone will make them lay. or
/ that there is any virtue in keeping hens
| in an artticially heated house. The ideal
henhouse should be we'll ventilated and
well protected from drafts, and above
| all things dry; especially over the roost-
! ing quarters. The best way to ventiate
house Is to alternate cloth or burlap
! curtains and glass windows; the latter
will provide light on stormy days when
| the cloth ones must he closed The cloth
windows should be left open on sunny
days. and If the house seems stuffy some
of them should also he opened at night,
! preferably those in the center OF the
! house. rather than at the ends, to avoid
! drafts. The cloth windows must be
| closed. however if the wind is blowing
/ in such "A direction as to make the
house drafty, or if rain or snow is driv-
ing in.
If the floors are damp and the litter
| becomes foul, damp or musty, it should
| be changed at once This litter shouo
be from eight to Il inches deep. and OF
some light material such as rye straw
so the hens will like to dig in 1t 70,
grain fed them, After this scratch grar
Is thrown in. the litter may be tossed
a bout with fork so that the hens vii
| have to dig il up-the harder they worl
| the better. il they have to be confined
in the house. II the eggs are TO b'
used for Matching and breeding purposes
the hens should be given all the range
possible and should be allowed out OF
doors in all reasonable weather. Blu
If winter market eggs are the only OBJ
ject. then keep the hens indoors. bu
keep them busy all the time digging FOL
| their food.