THE SEASONS AS AFFECTING POULTRY 



from the cold weather, which will still further 

 retard the molt. 



Fowls can often be forced to commence to molt 

 and the process hastened by feeding very light for 

 a week or ten days, and then feeding heavily on 

 nutritious food. This should be done during the 

 latter part of July or in August. Where eggs for 

 hatching are the specialty, it is not desirable to 

 have the hens lay heavily through the winter, and 

 late-molting hens are not particularly undesirable 

 in this connection, but all hens should be fully 

 feathered out by the time the weather turns cold, 

 for they will need a full coat of feathers for 

 protection. 



While I cannot agree with some writers that 

 the process of molting is a serious and critical 

 drain upon the vitality and physical powers of the 

 fowl, still I do believe that it may easily become 

 such under any other than the most proper and 

 natural conditions. Molting Is a process of Na- 

 ture, and not a disease, and so no drugs, stimulating 

 condiments or tonics are either necessary or desir- 

 able. Let Nature have her own way and time, 

 doing your own part faithfully and well in pro- 

 viding the correct and natural conditions that you 

 should, and you will have no trouble with sickness 

 or death among your fowls on account of the molt. 



Feed and care for molting fowls the same as at 

 any other time, only remembering that the weather 



221 



