Milford chronicle., 1917-07-27

Closely following the summer season, or in fact !
while the fowls are still subject to the summer
climate. comes a condition which means much to /
both the birds and their breeders. This is known
as the moulting season and usually hits the birds
at a time when the summer is rounding into fall,
The period of moult is one in which the fowls /
become inactive, and necessarily rest from their
labors of egg producing. There are, Of course,
some few eggs laid during this period but these
are very few and will mean little to you m so lar
as revenue. For the most part. the birds will not
lay during this rest period.
There has been quite a good deal written upon
the subject Of moultng, and while opinions diter
widely as to the care of the fowls during the lay
off or rest period, believe it is well to say some
thing along the line at this time which may possi,
bly, benefit the new ones which have ventureu
into poultry raising.
Under ordinary conditions the moult rarely ever
starts until late in the summer which means tnat
winter will have struck the flock before the moult
is over and thus cause the birds to remain unpro-
ductive for the greater part Of the winter
This result is a decided loss TO the breeder for it
is from the sale of fall and winter eggs that ne
reaps his greatest profit.
There are two separate and distinct ways to in
fall and winter laying either OF Whlch Will
enable the poultryman to supply the demand Tor
eggs during that season and help him 10 earn
fair profit from his poultry.
The first and most important way IS 70 natch
early each year. thus permitting the puilets to
mature in sufficient time for fall and winter lay-
ing This method is always to be recommended,
and every poultryman who resorts to early haten-
ing is a fair road to success, because, Wnen ms
older birds are undergoing the rest or mout perod
g
his pullets Will be shelling out their proportion OF
eggs that will mean money TO him.
The second way is TO force the moult OF the older
birds: that is, compel them TO take their annual
rest earlier than is their custom and at time
when eggs are selling below normal
Many persons decry forcing the moult and while
under ordinary conditions would not recommend
such procedure. yet am forced 20 admit that /
think il does but little or harm TO slightly force
this period onto the fowls. thus enabling you 10
get as much as possible in the way Of pronts from
your focks.
If left entirely 20 themselves the fowls viii usu-
ally begin the moLlt about the last OF August.
This means that the birds will be of little use to
you as producers until almost the beginning OF the
following year. The later the moult the longer
the birds remain idle, and the longer it takes them
TO round again into conditions 10 perform their
duties of egg producing. Late moulting brds are
"half naked" during the cold season. and natur-
ally in this condition. are non-producing.
The point that ] would make is to encourage
rather than force the moult little earlier than
usual for them. If INDUCED in, this should be
about the first of August, never before.
Older birds. q rule, generally slack on from
laying during June and July and by the nrst OF
August have lost the habit entirely. II you have
not fully prepared for the rest period. by getting
ont a uantity of pullets early tomature in time to
take the place of the older ones during moult then
hy all means ] would say encourage the ioWls 70
take their rest a little earlier than usual.
By doing this your chickens will take their an
nual rest at a time when they should lay out but
very few if any eggs, and be rounded into shape
for the activities of fall and winter.
Birds kept free range VIII possibly lay larry
well during the period stated but this IS certainly
not true of those kept in close confinement. These
Law but few eggs during the late summer. and for
that reason believe that il is a good thing to en-
courage them to moult when they are idle