FEEDING FOR EGGS. 283 
twice a week; overfeeding, overcrowding, and no 
inducement to scratch for a living. These are the 
most common and important mistakes, and those who 
wonder why their Lens do not lay, will do well to go 
over the list. 
See that your house is tight, so that on cold windy 
nights the fowls will not suffer any more than can be 
helped. A good plan is to keep a barrel in the building, 
and the coldest nights put in the birds that are liable 
to have their combs freeze, and cover the barrel. Above 
all, do not crowd the fowls. During the long winter 
months, when they , 
cannot exercise out of 
doors, they will need ff 
at least seven or eight § 
feet square per fowl. 
Scatter some hay 
around and throw the 
grain into it. This 
will make them exer- 
cise and will be what 
they need, and the 
eggs will hatch better 
in the spring. Avoid 
feeding stimulants to FIG. 112. RHODE ISLAND REDS. 
fowls you are going to breed from, and do not give them 
any more food than they will eat up clean. The rest 
is very apt to be left and become filthy. Another thing 
is, pure, fresh water; do not fail in this. You may 
think snow will answer, but it is not good for poultry 
and will make them poor. Warm the water on cold 
days, and put a spoonful of red pepper in it. Fowls are 
always thirsty, and a great deal of roup is brought on by 
allowing them to drink impure water. Kindness is 
never thrown away in poultry. Show us a person who 
studies their wants and loves to care for them, and we 
warrant he will be successful. 
