French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-02-15
PRODUCE WINTER EGGS.
SuupIy in Periods of Greatest Scarity
Nav be Increased by Proper Meth
eds of Caring for the Birds.

Poultry owners who wish to obtain .
satisfactory production of eggs during
tho fall and early winter should >ar-
,.once to hatch pullets in March or
,nrfl, Birds Matched at this time will
ba we'll matured in the fall. Further
moro. 3, creator. proportion of them
,,iII so broody early in the spring, thus
comnlsting the circle necessary for
nro5uction in the fall.
PuEIets Matched in the spIingt can
70 induced to Icy more abundantly IN
thn winter if they are properly fed, and
handled. On the average general
farm. very few eggs are secured at the
time when eggs bring tho highest
nrices. 1t sill pay the poultry owner,
therefore. to devote a little trouble to
Troyiding his birds with the most fav-
orable surroundings Tor the winter.
The house should be thoroughly
cleaned, disinfected. and made tight
before the cold weather sets in. If
the house has o dirt floor, it is we'll to
remove 8 or 4 inches of dirt from the
ION and replace this material with dry
Gravel or sand. On cement or wooden
floors 4 or S inches of fresh straw or
litter may be thrown down after the
floor has been cleaned.
ventilation is anotehr important
factor to consider. The house should
he tight on three sides, but for, the
fourth muslin curtains may be used
for from One-third to one-half its ex-
tent. In any case, there should be
some ventilation in the house. even on
the coolest nights. Fowls will stand
considerable cold air, provided it is
dry. and ventilation will keep the air
thoroughly dry lin the house. On the
other hand, drafts are likely to cause
roup and other trouble.
Many farmers. in feeding their birds
overlook the fact that beef scrap or
some similar feed is very essential
during the winter months if a good
supply of eggs is to be obtained. A
convenient method of feeding beef
scrap is in mash made of three parts
corn meal and one part of wheat bran,
wheat middling and beef scrap. Skim
med milk or bUttermilk may be used in
place of the beef scrap, but if the sup
ply is limited some scrap also should
be fed.
$n experiments conducted by the
department. is was found that for the
first four months pullets fed a ration
continuing beefschap produced on an
average. Ais eggs, while those fed the
same ration without the scrap produc-
cd only 1877. The cost of feeding the
latter birds was 2.2 cents higher for
every dozen eggs produced than in the
case of the pullcts fed beef scrap.
The birds should have plenty to eat
but they also should always be eager
for each meal. If one-third of the
scratch grain furnished them is fed in
the morning and two-thiTds at night,
the birds viii take more exercise than
if they receive all the grain they de-
sire in the morning. Good scratch
mixtures may be made of equal parts
by weight of cracked corn, wheat, and
cats. or of Two parts Of cracked corn
and one part each of wheat and oats. i
Other directions for the winter care
Of birds are contained in new publ
cation of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Circular II, office
Of the Secretary, Winter Egg Produc-
tiOn.-U S. Dept. Agri. Weekly News !
Letter.