47o Feeding Fowls for Eggs in Winter. [nov. 5 , 



grit, shell, or green stuff. The last hen finished moulting about 

 the middle of November, one died on December 14th, and 

 another laid six eggs in the month of January. 



No. 2 pen were fed in the morning on four parts by bulk of 

 barley meal, two parts ground oats, and two parts pollards, 

 mixed with cold water ; with wheat, barley, and maize alter- 

 nately in the evening ; grit and oyster shell occasionally ; cold 

 water to drink. The last hen completed her moult at the begin- 

 ning of November, one started to lay on 4th November ; two* 

 more in December, and another in January.. Eighty-two eggs- 

 were obtained altogether. 



No. 3 pen as a morning feed had two parts by bulk pollards, 

 four parts barley meal, one part old bean meal, two parts oat- 

 meal. This was mixed with hot water and soup r the soup being 

 obtained by boiling in a copper large bones and a few pieces of 

 fat obtained from butchers. Another addition, three days in 

 the week, was boiled linseed. A pint of pure linseed was put 

 in a saucepan and four pints of water added. This was then 

 placed on the fire and allowed to boil slowly until it became of 

 the consistency of gruel ; after being allowed to cool, half a 

 pint was used at a time, mixed with the other soft food. This 

 constituted the morning feed, which was always placed in 

 troughs. To drink they had warm water and milk. About 

 mid-day some kale or cabbage, with a few heavy oats, was 

 given. In the evening wheat or maize, and old peas once a 

 week, with a plentiful supply of grit and shell. This pen of 

 birds were all moulted by the second week in October, and 

 kept in perfect health and plumage right through the winter. 

 One bird started to lay on the 21st October, and another on 

 the 23rd, and by the end of November four were laying regu- 

 larly ; the other laid a few eggs in December, but soon stopped 

 and was useless except to kill. The other four birds laid 195 

 eggs. Similar results were obtained with pullets. 



It will be noticed when visiting poultry shows held in the 

 winter, that many of the hens or pullets exhibited are 

 laying although the weather may be severe and eggs scarce. 

 These birds are continually being sent about the country and 

 subjected to rough handling and exposed positions, often in a 

 draught. The reason why they lay when country birds do 



