CHAPTEE III. 



Fall and Winter Management. 



We have follow ed the fowl from the egg to the halt-grown chicken, or from 

 March to'the first of August. It now remains for ns to trace the growth of the 

 young chicken through the remainder of the year, in doing which it will be 

 more convenient to include the general management of the whole poultry-yard, . 

 since from this date both young and old fowls may be allowed to run together, 

 except where their separation may be made necessary for breeding purposes. 

 Heretofore it has been assumed that the laying and breeding fowls, aside from 

 those actually engaged in the rearing of broods, have had but little care, but 

 have been expected to find their liying on the range. If the range be large 

 enough, this will be found not only the most economical plan, but that most 

 conducive to the health of the fowls, as the exercise gained in hunting for food, 

 and the variety tif insect and green food thus obtained, will cause a thriftier 

 growth than can be obtained by any artificial feeding. 



Should the range be limited, however, and fpedingon that accountbe rendered 

 necessary, regard should be had to the natural habits of the fowl, by giving in 

 the food a due proportion of meat and of green vegetables. For the meat supply 

 butchers' offal is the best ; soap-house scraps may be used in small quantity, if 

 fresh. For the grain food, wheat screenings or barley are the best for the chief 

 supply. Com should be giyen in moderate quantities only, on account of its ten- 

 dency to fatten. Sorghum seed is an excellent food for poultry; milk may be given 

 liberally, and skim-milk, sweet or sour, mixed with wheat bran, makes an excel- 

 lent food. Green vegetabes of all sorts, especially cabbages and onions, should 

 be given regularly. Should there be signs of too great looseness of the bowels, 

 diminish the allowance of green and soft food, and increase that of grain. Pure 

 water should, of course, be always in reach, and it is weU to keep it in iron 

 vessels, or to add occasionally a small lump of copperas (sulphate of iron), as a 

 tonic, and preventive of roup and cholera. A dust bath of dry earth, sifted 

 ashes, or both, should be always within reaohj and the perches and inside of 

 the hen-house should be kept sweet by whitewashing, and by cleaning the 

 manure from the floors. Lime, in some form, should be constantly within reach, 

 and the best form is that of oyster-sheUs pounded fine; or of ground bone. The 

 latter may be mixed with the food to advantage, in the proportion of a table- 

 spoonfnl two or three times a week to each dozen fowls. Without some such 

 supply as this the egg-shells are liable to become soft. This mode of feeding 

 may be continued to the commencement of winter, modifying the amount of 

 food given to suit the conditions of range and season, as a protracted drouth may 

 so shorten the natural food supply that fowls which have been maintaining 

 themselves on the range may now require to be fed. 



With the approach of winter we must prepare for furnishing a larger propor- 

 tion of the food supply of our fowls, and as a large proportion of the winter food 



