Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-05-08

GIVING THE HEN A NEW COAT
OF FEATHERS HELPS FALL
AND WINTER LAYING

An early and rapid moult can be
forced if the proper care and feeding
is given to assist nature in her work
of preparing a new coat of feathers
for the hens. This feed, as / have
found it, should be rich in oils and
carbohydrates since they contribute
. largely to the structure and growth
of the new feathers. OF course, such
feeding must not be overdone suffi-
GENTLY to over-fat the hens as that
would be destructive to their laying
qualities as a late moult would be,
but the feeder must gage the proper
tions Of the feed mixture by observa-
ton and experience.
For a flock of eighty hens / have
obtained good results and cut the
moulting time in about half by feed
ing a two gallon ration Of feeds in
about the following proportions:
Kafir corn two-ffths; mil1et one-fifth;
coarse ground corn one-fifth, or
enough to balance so that it will
crumble good when wet. Fed at this
rate, it would make about quart for
every ten hens, but this would prob
p1bly need to be varied according to
1ttC AhtNuo VI btiC pat OlNdAdi ho
the moult advances, the quantity of
millet should be cut down and other
feeds substituted.
In conjunction with a change of
diet the moult can be brought about
sooner by housing the hens in warm
roosting quarters. Nature endeavors
TO adjust the warmth of the feather
coat to suit the comfort of the bird
so that this will tend TO hasten the
loosening of the feathers. Then when
the old feathers loosen and new ones
are starting it will be found helpful
to compel the hens to roost in the
coolest place possible but great care
must be exercised to be sure they are
not forced to roost in a draft. This
will adcentuate the growth of a new
coat of feathers to a wonderful ex-
tent so that if any are to be used for
exhibition purposes at the rounty
fairs the birds will be plump and
sleek with fine new coat of perfect
feathers. Some poultry raisers have
found it advisable to pluck the old
feathers as soon as they are loosened
so that a new feather will not be
hindered in its growth by being oblig-
ed to push the old feather out of the
way. This is undoubtedly a good
PI dCIlCC OuI VIII lNH0AIC NOnolQCi dDAy
more time than the average farmer
is able to give to his poultry.
1t is but very little trouble to pen
the male birds up in separate quar-
tiers during the moulting time and
permit no breeding. 1t is better for
the hens as well as for the male
birds. Atemporary wire netting and
some ordinary coops will furnish
them with sufficient shelter an room
for exercise.
Usually in a flock of hens there are
a number that will moult late no mat
ter how much care and attention is
given them. These will not begin lay
ing until late in the winter and as
rule will not be worth their keep, so
that it is a profitable radiance to Gull
out the late moulters and put them
on the market at the earliest date
possible.
One possible hindrance to an early
and rapid moult would be trouble
from lice, and for this reason even if
for no other, it is best TO take added
precautions to thoroughly cleanse the
roosting rooms and rid the hens of lice
on account of so much rainy weather
keeping the busting places wet and
muddy so the hens cannot dust them
selves and bask in the sun.