THE POULTRY YARD. 900 



Winter Egg-Production. — The following is from the Country GenOe- 

 man: To obtain a breed of fowls that are perpetual layers is the object 

 that many aim at This ia an impossibility, for nature will exhaust itself 

 and must have a period of rest. In order that we have a perpetual produc- 

 tion of fresh eggs, the business must be arranged beforehand. There is a 

 difference in breeds, some laying better than others at any time of the year, 

 and others, again, giving their eggs in winter. There is httle difficulty in 

 obtaining eggs in summer, but the winter eggs must be worked for, and the 

 fowls managed Jbeforehand. Hens that have laid well during the summer 

 cannot be depended on for late fall or early winter, even if well fed, but will 

 generally commence in January, and keep it up throughout February and 

 March, giving a good supply of eggs if not too old. But it is better not to 

 allow such birds to go into the winter. They are generally fat, after having 

 finished the annual moult, and should be killed for the table. After the 

 second annual moult hens are apt to become egg-bound, especially if well 

 fed and fat. The excess of fat that accumulates about the lower intestines 

 and ovaries weakens these organs and renders them incapable of performing 

 their offices. Hence the fowl suffers and becomes profitless. When left too 

 long the bird becomes feverish and the flesh is unfit for food. The better 

 way is to avoid this trouble, since there is no cure, by not allowing the birds 

 to go into the second winter. Trouble of this kind seldom occurs with 

 pullets or young hens. 



To obtain a supply of winter eggs, we most have the chicks out in March 

 or April. Leghorns and some of the smaller breeds will do in May or the 

 first of June, but the Brahmas and Cochins must come off early, that they 

 may have the full season for growth. The Asiastics are generally good 

 layers in winter, and need less artificial heat, as nature has not furnished 

 them with any ornamental appendages which suffer by exposure to frost 

 For them it is not necessary to Bi)end large sums in warm buildings. What 

 they can dispense with in this respect they demand in feed, which must be 

 ;. given regularly. The feed must be kept up and varied with animal and 

 Tegetable diet. The supply of water must never faiL We must feed and 

 feed a long time before the eggs will come. Any breed of hens will con- 

 sume an enormous quantity of feed before commencing to lay, but after 

 having once begun they will not require, or even take so mnch grain. When 

 laying, their great craving is for vegetable and animal substances, and 

 crushed clam or oyster shells. 



Fowls that are regularly trained have certain portions of the day for their 

 different feeds. My birds require their shells at night, as well as their 

 preens, and their grain in the morning, and always fresh water. When one 

 Las the time and convenience, and enjoys the petting of fowls, making warm 

 stews on very cold days is an admirable plan, and the birds relish them 

 marvelously. Take beef or pork scraps, and put into an old kettle, having 

 them previously chopped fine, and fill it half full of water. While stewing, 

 throw in a dozen chopped onions, two dozen cayenne peppers, and the day's 

 coffee and tea-grounds, v Thicken the mixture with commeal, and serve it 

 around among the hens hot. They relish it amazingly when once taught to 

 eat it, and will look for the ration daily at the certain time. On cold winter 

 days give this feed between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, and tha 

 chicks get their crops warmed up for the coming cold at night. K scraps are 

 not handy, boil unpeeled potatoes, and serve in the same manner, adding a 

 kttle grease or cold gravies left over from yesterday's dinner. 



The combed varieties require warmer quarters and sunnier exposure 



