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TJic Country Gcntlanmis Magazine 



Coarse canvas or calico fastened round the 

 basket is what I use, and from time to time 

 these Hnings are taken out, washed, and put 

 aside for future occasions. The hampers 

 should have wicker-work lids, to tie down 

 with strings, and T always, if possible, super- 

 intend the putting the birds into their hampers, 

 and tying on the labels. Mistakes are of 

 frequent occurrence; and it is almost too 

 much for one's temper to ha\'e a fine pen of 



birds dis([ualified from^[having^been placed 

 i n a wrong hamper. I have known this sad 

 event happen, and experienced the inevitable 

 effect. During exhibition I strongly depre- 

 cate the use of grain. Much discomfort is 

 consequent upon the liberal supply given on 

 these occasions to poultry ; and I have even 

 seen sawdust put in the bottoms of the coops, 

 which reprehensible plan is certain to cause 

 illness of a very serious nature. 



THE HENWIFES KALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. 



THE henwife may continue to dispose of 

 eggs as soon as gathered. They 

 change rapidly during summer and autumn, 

 and so are liable to deteriorate in value more 

 than during spring. She may also continue 

 to add to her store of preserved eggs, whether 

 buttered or preserved in lime-water. Some 

 of the later broods will now be ready for 

 market or table. Cockerels, unless destined 

 for roosters, should be killed off as soon as 

 they have sufficient flesh. All they eat after 

 this is simply so much food wasted. The pul- 

 lets not suited for mothers or for layers should 

 also meet with similar treatment, and the yard 

 thus be gradually reduced before the setting-in 

 of winter. If the remainder be turned out into 

 the stubble, as in farm places they are almost 

 sure to be, they will feed sumptuously, and 

 greatly add to the contents of the egg-basket. 

 In kitchen-gardens, too, when the potatoes 

 are taken up, and much of the green crop 

 consumed, poultry will be found to do little 

 or no harm ; the womis and insects they find 

 contribute much to the egg-producing powers ; 

 their droppings give fertility to the soil, and 

 almost compensate any injury they may do. 

 The fresh air sets them up wonderfully, and 

 prepares them for the confinement of winter. 

 By this time the henwife will have a stock 

 of feathers collected, and if she has acted 

 prudently they will be nearly all ready for use. 

 The plan is simple. Let each fowl be plucked 

 w^iile warm ; separate the large wing feathers, 

 put the others into a dry tub, or basket, or 



box, in a dry place ; shake them up each day^ 

 so that all may alternately be exposed to the 

 air ; then put them into paper bags, put the 

 bags into a coolish oven, let them remain till 

 thoroughly dry, when they will be fit for use — 

 or the bags may be suspended from the roof 

 of the kitchen, but in this case they will take 

 longer to dry. Some of the small feathers 

 require to have the hard quilly portion cut off 

 with a pair of scissors. The wing feathers 

 may be stripped and added to the others. 



We have hitherto made no mention of the 

 diseases to which fowls are subject, and of 

 the remedies for them, for two reasons : first, 

 we think that the henwife who scrupulously 

 attends to the conditions of health on which 

 we have enlarged — viz., warmth, cleanliness, 

 proper feeding, and proper cleaning, will have 

 little reason to complain of disease in her 

 poultry-yard. Secondly, when disease does 

 make its appearance, we have little faith in 

 the remedies propounded for its removal, 

 having rarely seen them produce any good 

 effect. We would seek, then, by steady ad- 

 herence to the plans laid down, rather to pre- 

 vent disease than to cure it. But should the 

 fowls at any time shew symptoms of illness, 

 hanging the wing, or delaying to leave the 

 hen-house, good might be done by mixing in 

 their food some simple medicine, such as 

 Epsom salts or jalap, in the proportion of a 

 teaspoonful to twenty fowls. Some give 

 this occasionally to all their poultry, and find 

 it do them good. The warmth of a fire, or 



