South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-27
Overhaul Buildings IN Preparation for
Winter and Conserve Chicken Feee
BY Robert Armstrong.


portant month in the poultrymans
calendar. but in reality it is a pc
riod Of vital consideration. II is the
terminus OF years work. SO TO
speak. and the beginning of another
season II is the time when last
years pullets graduate into the
vearling class. When their aver
ages are summed. and those with
poor laying records are called for
market. This wedding process is the
beginning of "A selection OF next sea-
sons breeders October is the
month in which 10 clean and over
haul the buildings and make prep
arations for the winters work.
/ Autumn is the season that tests
The real ability of the poultryman,
his patience. and sometimes his
p0cketbook as Well with most of
the yearlings out on a strike, by
reason of the mott, and the pullets
not as yet laying TO their full ca
pacity, egg receipts are often no
higher than the feed bills. EXper-
I
these circumstances are bound TO
prevail at this season because it is
betwixt and between the going and
coming of the old and new hOcks.
The novice who started chickens
in the spring and is approaching his
first winter. is very apt to feel a
bit discouraged OF perpleXed. Put
such feelings aside. Cheer up! Ii
the young stock was properly hatch
ed and brooded. fed sufficiently on
we'll balanced ration. and given
clean. comfortable living quarters.
though they may seem TO be but
marking time" they will soon
strike up a lively gait and be lay
ing before you know il. Thanks
giving day should find them shell
ing a so percent yield at least, and
by Christmas they will be standing
in line for a nest
Always bear in mind. however,
that winter eggs are more or less an
artificial production, consequently,
fowls require more or less artificial
care. BY artificial care 1 mean that
the favorable conditions of the
spring. which is the normal period
for egg production should be imi-
tated as closely as possible.
OvcrhauIiHg the Building.
Fowls with any degree of stam-
ina viii shift for themselves under
almost any circumstances. Unless
snow is on the ground they are
capable Of foraging for enough food
to keep them going. But they are
not capable OF caring for themselves
and at the same time producing
profit for their owner. To be pro-
htable they must be cared for by
others. especially during the fall
and winter months.
The hen must have the raw ma
terials from which TO manufacture
eggs, and she must have sheltered
quarters in which 20 make them.
Poorly housed poultry must neces-
sarily consume a great deal Of food
in order To keep them warm from
the inside. II is more economical
10 warm them from the outside, by
giving them dry, well-ventilated
houses. free from drafts. and cap
able Of being flooded with sunshine.
The above paragraph is not petty
advice. IL is the very essence Of
success with chickens. Time and
again il has been proven that a
great deal more food is required 10
maintain the body temperature un-
der damp, drafty and uncOmfort-
able conditions than in a dry, warm,
suitable building. In the latter
case the greater part Of the fowls
nourishment is available for max
ing fat. flesh and eggs. No class Of
livestock responds TO good housing
more readily than poultry.
All poultry buildings should be
overhauled before cold weather
sets in. The best time for this work
is during the period of culling the
old stock for market. and starting
the new pullets in the laying houses.
once the pullets have commenced
TO lay Il is most unwise 20 disturb
them or move them elsewhere. To
do So is likely 10 check their laying.
which may not be resumed for
month or more. The following is a
good rule to establish. Never move
AaN CTS nA4Atc0 II II dbSOluAtlE UtGCS-
sary.
Beware the Leaky Roof.
BY all means look after the roofs
of the buildings Nothing is more
trou blesome than a leaky roof. II
means cold. wet living quarters for
the fowls; mucky. filthy litter. and
Will soon convert the otherwise ideal
house into a death trap.
II there are any shingles off, OF
any unsound or torn spots in the
patent roofing. repair them before
they grow worse and cause the
framing and sheathing lumber 10
warp and deteriorate Where pat
ent roofing is used, which is the
most common form of roofing for
poultry buildings. the nails securing
the seams and laps frequently work
out Of the lumber a quarter or a
half-inch. due 10 the swelling and
contracting OF the fibers Of the
wood. These nails should be gone
over and redriven. But do not
drive them too deeply into the roof
ms SO that they break or cut the
fabric. Il is also a good plan 70
paint the seams with asphalt roof