274 MANAGEMENT OF LAYING STOCK 



of properly adjusted muslin curtains. Frozen combs should be 

 particularly guarded against, for a laying flock exposed to this 

 condition will show a marked decline in egg production. The 

 birds should not be allowed out of doors when there is snow on the 

 ground or when the ground is wet, for wet feet and the eating of 

 snow are known to decrease egg production. If a heavy production 

 is desired during the winter, the best policy is to keep the birds 

 continually confined, regardless of weather. 



Care of Broody Hens. As soon as an individual hen has laid 

 a number of eggs, her natural tendency is to try to incubate them. 

 This instinct is much more pronounced during late winter and 

 spring, and, if a continuous heavy production is desired, it is 

 necessary to break up the broody habit as soon as possible, for 

 two reasons. If hens are allowed to sit continuously, they do not 

 begin again to lay for a month or more, and they are also apt to 

 spoil the eggs laid by other hens in the same pen. The best way 

 to break up broody hens is to confine them from three to five days, 

 as a rule, in specially constructed coops with slatted bottoms, feed- 

 ing them light rations of wheat, with plenty of water. Withhold 

 all heating feed, such as corn, and keep them away from their 

 natural nests. The desire to sit is thus more quickly discouraged. 

 The sooner the habit is broken up, the sooner the birds will start 

 laying again. Inattention to the proper management of broody 

 hens will mean a large number of them in the nests, especially 

 during the spring. This will greatly curtail the egg yield and will 

 hinder other hens from laying where they should. 



Summer management of laying birds resolves itself into three 

 topics: (1) How to handle the birds in the most economical 

 manner; (2) the selection of birds which are to be kept over for 

 future layers; (3) carrying the birds safely through the molt. All 

 these matters should be considered from the standpoint of econ- 

 omy of feed and labor, as well as immediate and future egg pro- 

 duction. 



Handling the Birds in the Most Economical Manner. As soon 

 as warm weather comes in the spring, the birds should be permitted 

 as much range as possible, since this supplies them with an abund- 

 ance of natural green feed. Freedom of range will greatly reduce 

 the amount of feed required and will keep the birds in much better 

 health. When it is impossible to pasture the birds on green feed, 

 it is necessary to grow and feed it to them in the form of a 

 soiling crop. 



