Methods with Laying Hens 195 



of food eaten. When laying heavily they eat 

 much. When moulting they eat little. The dry 

 mash ^ows them to satisfy their needs, even if 

 we have to omit the wet mash on certain evenings, 

 and makes things even if the wet mash feeding is 

 not quite enough to fill them up. 



Sitting Hens. — ^As the winter wears on, some 

 hens, if we have a heavy breed, will want to sit. 

 If we wish to have them sit, well and good ; but if 

 not, we must take them from the nest at once. If 

 space is limited, a small cage can be fastened to 

 the wall, and Biddy may be put in there with feed 

 and water, for a few days. 



We must remember, though, that we not only 

 wish to break up the sitting fever, but also to get 

 her back to laying again. She will get into harness 

 more quickly if we can place her in a small, but 

 comfortable run, with a coop or box, for shelter. 

 Cold will do her no harm, but she should be shel- 

 tered from wind and storm. Feed her mostly whole 

 grain, a light but substantial diet, and try her 

 again in the laying house after five or six days. 



Sanitation. — In order to keep the house free 

 from disease and insect pests, it should be thor- 

 oughly cleaned each year. The best time to clean 



