188 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 
DECEMBER 
It is often possible to buy a high-grade breeding 
male this month at a reasonable price, especially a 
yearling. 
The hens which remain on the roost last in the 
morning and go on first at night are not likely to 
be good layers. Watch your birds at this season. 
Go into the house at night and feel the crop of each 
hen. Note those hens whose crops are only half 
full and test them several nights in succession. If 
the same condition is found, you will be safe in 
saying that those hens are not laying. 
Scald the water dishes several times a month, 
even in mid-Winter. By giving the water warm, 
you will not have to fill the dishes so often, in freez- 
ing weather. 
Beware of new corn. You can feed it freely, 
however, if you first put it in the oven and parch 
it. The hens will relish it, too, especially if it is 
fed warm. In fact, warm corn is in the nature of 
a gentle stimulant, although not of sufficient value 
to warrant the work of preparing it except in the 
case of a small flock. 
