54 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



hens can have access to them at all times. To be 

 sure, there is considerable disagreement about the 

 necessity of grit when oyster shells are used, one 

 noted expert declaring that months will pass with- 

 out the hens touching the grit. At any rate, no 

 harm will be done if the fowls are without it for 

 a few weeks, but it is being on the safe side to keep 

 a box in the house at all times. A box of charcoal 

 is also recommended, for charcoal is an excellent 

 absorbent and the poultry seems to keep in better 

 condition when it is always at hand. > 



An egg is largely water. Without water hens 

 will not lay eggs. There is a string to that state- 

 ment, too, for they will do very well without water 

 if they have snow to eat. Some poultry keepers 

 warm water for their hens all Winter; others give 

 them no water of any kind when they can get snow. 

 No doubt the hens which have the warm water 

 give their owner a few more eggs than the snow- 

 fed birds, but whether enough more to compensate 

 him for the labor of carrying the water depends 

 upon how valuable his time is. 



Some rather foolish statements are made about 

 the necessity of warming the water for hens in Win- 

 ter. We are tojd that cold water chills the digestive, 



