ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



25 



chances of loss by crowding and disease, and they can be sorted accord- 

 ing to age and other conditions. 



HaviBg the hens and the house, give them good care and feed prop- 

 erly, and you will raise strong, healthy chicks and get a good return for 

 the money spent and work done. By good care I mean in addition to 

 what I have said about the house, provide a dust bath with dust in it; 

 have plenty of roost room, and if the roosts are all on the same level it 

 will stop the pushing and crowding that takes place every night where 

 the roosts are built on an incline. Provide plenty of sharp grit in each 

 pen or yard. The water supply must be looked after every day ; keep the 

 fountain clean and full of fresh v/ater, and in cold weather it pays to give 

 warm water and empty the dishes at night, as it is easier to do this than 

 to thaw out the ice in the morniag. 



It will help to keep the house clean to have dropping boards under 

 all roosts and clean them off each day into a basket and remove to the 

 manure pile. ■ 



Provide plenty of neat boxes in the darkest corners; keep them free 

 from vermin and renew the straw often. Never leave an egg for a nest 

 egg; use one made of plaster of paris or glass, as they won't spoil if sat 

 on over night. ■ 



If the house is large enough to accommodate the flock, it will pay to 

 confine the hens on wet, stormy, and in very cold weather, giving exercise 

 )y scattering small grain in the straw. 



By feeding properly, I mean feed enough, giving variety, plenty of 

 green stuff in the shape of cabbages, beets, mangles or chopped clover 

 hay steamed until soft. Give a little meat or beef meal two or three 

 times a week; watch their appetites and keep them just ready for more, 

 and they will be hungry and happy Dont feed too much, as in this lies 

 the greatest danger. An over fat hen don't lay as many eggs as one not 

 so fat, and her few eggs are seldom fertile. You can keep the fat down 

 by feeding small grain in the straw or other litter, and cutting down the 

 corn feed at night. My way is to feed wheat in the pens in the morning; 

 green stuff at noon, and light feed of shelled corn at night. This forces 

 the hen to work at least one-third of her time, which is about right. 



