POULTRT-CRAFT. 131 



severe, and varies in individual cases some hens being much more suscepti- 

 ble to change than others, and some of those easily affected recuperating 

 quickly, while others recover tone and vigor but slowly. 



The foregoing statements give the problem of fall and early winter egg 

 production quite fully, showing how important is skillful management, yet 

 how impotent against extremely unfavorable changeable weather at this season. 

 Occasionally it happens that the weather is continuously mild, or uniformly 

 cool, then cold. In either case it is comparatively easy to get and keep hens 

 laying. There is a great deal of chance in this matter of fall and early winter 

 egg production; there are many ifs; yet the man who intelligently does 

 what man can do toward getting the early eggs, has by far the best chance. 

 More than that, when good management misses the best, it catches the next 

 best. Though it may fail to get eggs in November and December, it makes 

 January eggs practically a certainty ; while poor management in the fall is 

 apt to result in no eggs before March. 



172. Anticipating Weather Changes. Some Little Things that 

 Count. Poultry keeping is essentially an occupation made up of trivialities. 

 In poultry keeping it is the little things that count. In working for early 

 winter eggs, some little things may have big results, determining whether it is 

 to be eggs, or no eggs. The wide-awake poultryman is weather-wise. He 

 anticipates the weather changes. He sees, or feels them coming, and takes 

 measures against them. A keen, cutting, chilling wind, springing up on a 

 warm day in the fall, will chill the hens through and through before they take 

 shelter, * and will, of course, make an open house as cold as out-doors. Such 

 cold storms, as also cold rain storms, an observant person can anticipate early 

 enough to get the fowls into the house, and close doors and windows. This is 

 a little trouble at first, but it pays. The house closed up with the fowls in it, 

 is full of warm air 'which cools gradually. The fowls hardly feel the change. 

 But there must be no coddling no shutting up fowls for slight changes, no 

 keeping them in the house when robust well fed fowls should be comfortable 

 out-doors. Once a severe change has occurred, and what could be done to 

 mitigate its effects has been done ; things should proceed in the regular routine. 

 On sharp frosty mornings, fowls may be kept in until they have had a meal, 

 but should never be confined late when the cold is not severe enough to nip 

 their combs. They should have the opportunity to go out-doors. Those that 

 will not use it are good to kill. They are the ones easily affected by cold, and 

 most subject to diseases emanating from colds. If the day is only raw and 

 bleak, the open scratching shed, or the house with windows open, gives as 

 much shelter as healthy fowls need. If it is stormy, without being very cold, 



* NOTE. Contrary to a common belief, hens, like other animals, most children, and 

 some people, have not the instinct of doing what is best to do in any given circumstances. 

 They learn by experience. After they have found out which is the most comfortable 

 place to go to when a cold storm conies up, they will go there every time. It is easier 

 to teach them what to do than to leave them to learn it for themselves easier, and it 

 comes cheaper. 



