REPORT OF TEE POULTRY MANAGER 

 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



329 



The record of three pullets for the first half of the month of December, and of the 

 four for the latter portion is as follows : — 



AN EARLY MOULT— COMMENCEMENT OF WINTER LAYING. 



The one and two-year old hens moulted early, and went into winter quarters in 

 good condition. Winter laying commenced on the 23rd of November. At that time 

 the weather had turned cord and there was a snow fail which necessitated the closing 

 in of the different pens for the winter. 



Every effort was made to shorten the moulting period, which is really one of non- 

 production, and gratifying success was attained. The following treatment was adopt- 

 ed. During the first week in July the sending out of eggs for hatching purposes had 

 ceased, and the breeding pens were broken up, the male birds being removed to a build- 

 ing with small pens and limited runs. The hens were allowed to run in small fields in 

 rear of the poultry buildings. During the first two or three weeks in July their ra- 

 tions were reduced one-half, the mash being fed only once per week, and one-half in 

 quantity. At end of July the full rations were resumed, and the mash was fed three 

 times per week, but was mixed with cold instead of hot water. As it was not conveni- 

 ent or desirable to feed cut bone during the hot weather of August, a preparation of 

 meat (Spratt's Crissell) was mixed in the mash, in the proportion of 3 to 5 pounds per 

 hundred hens. The half rations were i pound wheat or buckwheat to every 15 hens of 

 the Mediterranean classes, and to every 20 hens of the heavier breeds. When buck- 

 ydieat is used in summer it is better to mix oats with it. The half ration of mash was 

 fed in the same proportions. Bran was used as a part of the mash. The full ration of 

 mash was composed of coarsely ground oats, 2 parts; shorts, 1 part; cornmeal, 1 part, 

 •with Spratt's Crissell in quantity of one pound to every 15 or 20 hens. Pure water for 

 drink was always at hand. The fields furnished clover and grass. The response to this 

 treatment was the shedding of the old feathers and the appearance of the new ones. 

 By the end of September or first week in October, some much earlier, the hens were 

 over their moult and looking remarkably well. From the results obtained and obser- 

 vation during the moult it seemed as if it were possible to shorten the season of non- 

 production to a still greater extent. One result in the shortening of the rations was to 

 at once reduce the egg production to almost nothing. The remarks of Dr. N. W. 

 Sanborn, a recognized authority of the United States, in his work on 'Poultry Dis- 

 eases,' says of the moulting period : ' So many birds pass through the inordting pro- 

 cess with difficulty, if not disease, that it is well to call attention to it. A moulting 

 hen is easily fattened. Hence, at this period, feed lightly of those foods which pro- 

 duce fat. Corn, cornmeal, middlings," potatoes, must be used sparingly. Increase the 

 amount of green bone, bran and skim milk. A run in a field of clover will be a help. 

 Do not try to hasten the time of the moult by keeping in a warm pen or by feeding 

 cotton seed or linseed meal. Keep all males by themselves during the moulting season. 

 The hens should be sheltered from storms or cold rains. The ideal place for a run is 

 an apple orchard where in addition to the grass may be found insects in fallen fruit, 

 &c. Birds should go into the moult not fat, free from lice and with no red mites in the 

 house.' This extract was given in report of 1896, but is valuable enough to warrant 

 its repetition. 



