88 THE farmer's guide. 



oats, rye, buckwheat, or bran. They should in winter have 

 access to the ground, or have a quantity of gravel v/ithin reach, 

 as without the aid of gravel-stones, digestion can not be carried 

 on. Where hens are high-fed, and precluded access to the 

 ground, for a length of time, to prevent their eggs being pro- 

 duced without shells, a small quantity of slaked lime, pounded 

 oyster-shells, or ashes and salt, should be given them, with 

 fresh water daily. During the cold season warm food should 

 be allowed them. 



HEN-HOUSE. 



It is usual for some farmers to allow their hens to roost in 

 trees, or in the barn, during the warm season of the year. This 

 can not always be avoided, yet if a little timely expense v/ere 

 incurred in building a house for them, it would result in much 

 greater benefit than is generally supposed. No reflecting man 

 will long allow his flock of hens to occupy a barn Vv'ell filled 

 with all kinds of unthrashed grain. The house can be con- 

 structed in a great variety of ways, according to the wishes of 

 the owner. It should be built on perfectly dry ground, in a 

 warm location, without any floor, well lighted with glass win- 

 dows, so arranged that they can be opened and shut at pleas- 

 ure ; the entrance about three feet from the ground, by means 

 of a plank 10 feet long, one end of which resting upon a stone 

 placed upon the ground, and the other end connecting with the 

 opening. Around the sides of the house separate boxes, 15 

 inches square and 10 inches deep can be placed, in tiers, one 

 above another, with the openings so arranged that they will 

 not face each other, as the hen, while sitting, wishes to be un- 

 disturbed. In the boxes place hay and straw for a nest, having 

 a sufficient number of them to prevent the hens from trespass- 

 ing upon each other. In severe storms, close the windows, 

 leaving openings for ventilation. 



BREEDING. 



The hen usually selects a retired place for her nest, and fre- 

 quently produces a brood of chickens at the commencement of 

 winter, when they are nearly worthless. It can be known 

 when she is sitting (as it is termed) by a noise peculiar to her 

 at that seasvn. If it is desirable to prevent her from sitting, 

 she can be watched closely for a short time, as she will not 

 remain long from her nest, and her place of concealment can 

 be found, the eggs removed, and the nest so thoroughly de- 

 stroyed that she will not return to it. Hens require a warm, 

 dry, and secluded place for their nests, and will generally hatch 

 all of their eggs. There may be a difl'ercnce of from 12 to 24 

 hours in the time of the hatching of the brood ; in that case it 

 may be necessary to remove those first hatched, to prevent 



