144 COMMON SENSE 
Onur First Winter. 
f8)N northern climates it is the wintering of his stock that 
tests the ability of the stock raiser, and decides his 
profits, and this whether it be cattle or poultry. A few 
dozen hens can easily be kept in a lean-to shed next the cow 
stable or barn, and they may be kept warm and. well fed and 
prove a success. Every shed on the premises will be frequented 
by the birds, which will thus find plenty of shelter and dry spots 
without any necessity for the owner putting up special buildings, 
but, when the number of fowls is large, these resources fail, and 
the usual results of crowding and discomfort make their ap- 
pearance. I had had a very unpleasant experience ‘in regard to 
this matter at one time, when, after raising two or three hundred 
chickens, I attempted to winter them, without providing the 
necessary shed room. I had, therefore, been careful to attach 
large commodious slreds to all my houses, and to make the access 
to these sheds so convenient that the fowls would have no snow 
and sleet to pass over in order to get to the feeding grounds and 
dusting baths beneath them. I also allowed the large temporary 
shed to remain, as I knew that it would be a great boon to the 
young chickens until they were properly disposed of. 
The nights had now began to get chilly, and frosts had come 
with the October days. Our latest broods were too delicate to 
stand the chill autumn night air, though on bright days they en- 
joyed basking in the sun. We still kept many of them in the wire- 
covered brooding coops, but to the older ones we had given the 
liberty of the place. I provided very warm comfortable places for 
them to nest at night, although most of these were rather of a 
make-shift character. My standard coop for this purpose, how- 
ever, one that I could obtain easily in any quantity, consiste.| simply 
of one of the cheap barrels used for packing ap les, etc. ‘This was 
