Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-21
THE POULTRY YARD
FARM POULTRY IN WINTER.
BY Ed weber

The success Of the farmer Of the fut-
ure will not depend upon the number
Of acres he own, but upon the manner
In which he develop each acre to its
greatest productive state. Intensive
farming has not been necessary during
the past years, and therefore has not
been developed to any great extent.
But with foreign population pouring
into our country at the rate of 1000
900 each year it is necessary that We
give the matter attention in the near
future.
The one branch of farm work that
has been neglected, as a general rule,
Is the farm poultry. On the average
farm today poultry is kept in much,
the same way as it was fifty or seven
ty-five years ago. The hens are forced
to forage about for living. If they
seem disposed to lay 1t is all right, If
not, You proceed to get a new kind"
Success will never come to the person
who Is continually getting new
kind" You must stick to one breed
and build 1t up. year by year, if you
hope to realize anything for your
work.
y
what your hens mean to you? Even
now. with the Indifferent care given
them, they keep you in groceries and
In many cases clothe you and your
family. If they do this much now,
what would they do under different
conditions? In the spring, when the
weather and conditions are ideal, you
are flooded with eggs. In the winter,
when prices are high and you need
eggs more than at any other time Of
the year, you are without them.
0pportunities in Poultry.
While 1t Is fact that live stock
and dairy farming present great OPP
portunities to the farmer, there is not
q single branch Of farm that presents
the opportunities that are to be found
in poultry culture. The demand for
fresh eggs during every month Of the
year greatly exceeds the supply. The
hungry city consumer is begging for
more eggs and he has the money to pay
for them. Do you know how to get the
eggs when the prices are high?
The very first essential to be con-
sidered is the house where you keep
your hens. While some authorities
are inclined to give the kind Of stock
you keep the first place, the stock
really plays very little part in the
egg question. OF course, pure blooded
stock has always had the advantage,
but the fact that you have a flock OF
scrubs does not mean that they will
not lay eggs In the winter.
The house, to be ideal, should be on
gentle slope to the south. II there
is windbreak to the north it will be
all the better. All Of the windows
should be In a position to admit sun
light either facing the south or east.
II you can arrange to take out one or
two OF the windows and install muslin
curtains in their place, It will be all
the better. While a hen naturally likes
a warm house. she must have plenty
Of fresh air. 1t does not matter how
much air. you admit Or how cold it is,
provided you do not create drafts.
The house should be warm, Of course.
great deal Of warmth can be added
by getting some roofing paper and
lacking it on the outside Of the house.
It is very cheap and will make many
houses that could not be used at all
habltable for hens. Remember, when
you are fixing up. your house, that
looks has nothing whatever to do with
1t. Build q house for warmth and
comfort not show. AS long as you
Keep the hens comfortable you will
have no trouble.
Caro- Of the Fowls.
Some people have the idea that a
hen. does not need care-that she Is
capable Of taking care of herself and
that she can do as much better by
herself. That is mistake. A hen
is naturally a dependent creature, and
when wholly dependent she does her