River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-10-17
ESSENTIALS FOR
EGGS IN WINTER
Stock, Quarters, Treatment,
Food and Exercise Must Be
Given Consideration.
PULLET is MAIN RELIANCE
Aim of Poultry Keeper Should Be
Roomy, Clean, WeII-VentiIated and
Lighted Houses-Avoid Dis
turbing or Annoying Hens. ~

Some poultry keepers, seemingly
without much particular effort, get
winter eggs while others work hard
knowingly or unknowingly provide es-
sentials necessary for winter egg pro-
duCtiOn while In the case of the latter
some important factor is neglected.
Eight essentials are necessary, accord
ing to poultry specialists Of the United
States department of agriculture, in
securing winter eggs. They are: ID
. tiers; (3) kind treatment; az regular
attention; go abundant water; (6)
wholesome food; CD liberal rations;
(8) cOngenial exercise. Due considera-
ton to each of these essentials will
bring success, but if the results in eggs
are poor-far below the moderate
standard of five dozen eggs per hen in
the first six months Of laying-that
fact Is proof that the requirements
have not all been fully met.
Suitable Stock.
Pullets that have been seasonably
vigorous are good winter layers. Good
laying birds usually mott so late in
the fall that the melting shortens pro-
ductiOn in the early part of their sec
Ond winter. Hence pullets are the
poultry keepers reliance for eggs at
the season of high prices; and If the
pullets fail in any of the specifications
mentioned for good laying stock, the
poultry keeper is handicapped at the
start.
Comfortable Quarters.
A roomy, clean, Well-ventilated and
well-lighted poultry house should be
the aim Of poultry keepers who are
striving for winter eggs. Provision
should be made for light and ventila-
ton so that during severe weather the
house can be made snug.
Modern practice in the ventilation of
poultry houses is to ventilate by means
of open windows and doors, in and
near the front of the house, giving all
the fresh air possible without exposing
the birds to temperatures at which they
plainly suffer from cold. The common
rule for ventilation in extreme cold
weather is to give ventilation enough
to prevent the deposit of frost or mois-
ture on inside walls. Where so dry
8 condition of the air in the houses is
maintained the birds are not much af-
fected by low temperatures and by
changes of temperature; they do not
contract colds so easily, and they Law
more steadily.
Kind Treatment.
The poultry keeper should not only
be easy in all his movements about
the care of the poultry, but should take
care that no one and nothing else dis
5 turbs or annoyS the birds. Hens that
are nervous and easily frightened
should not be kept where they are
regularly or frequently disturbed, for
they will not lay well under such con-
ditons. If nervousness and excitabil-
ity Is a breed characteristic, and the
annOyanceS which occur or exist can
not be removed, the only remedy is to
dispose of the stock and keep a breed
OF more phlegmatic temperament.
Irregularity in attending poultry is
the most common cause of unsatisfac-
tory egg yields. Regular attention does
not necessarily mean attention at fire.
Quent regular intervals. The times of
attendance may be far apart and in
frequent, as daily, or under some cir
cumstances at even longer intervals,
between giving supplies of feed and
water. The essential thing is that the
hens wants shall always be properly
provided for in due season.
Abundant Water.
Keeping the poultry supplied with
water in freezing weather is one of