1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
475 
FEEDING A HEN. 
(continued.) 
will lay some while moulting, but do not 
finish the moult nearly so quickly as 
those that shed the old coat all off in a 
few days’ time. It is a somewhat more 
trying time with this latter class until 
they get fairly covered again, which they 
very soon will, if in good, robust condi¬ 
tion to begin with. I do not feel sure 
that either one is more desirable than 
the other, but am inclined to favor the 
one that moults quickly, as, although 
she stops laying altogether for a time, 
she is generally found to be the best 
layer when she starts in again after her 
new coat is complete. The slow-moult¬ 
ing hen would, probably, be best for 
those who want a fowl to stand neglect, 
and I am sorry to find that there are 
many who are looking for such. As for 
myself, I cannot afford to keep hens for 
that purpose. 
A TALK ABOUT “ MOULTING." 
Tn studying the subject of “moulting,” 
as it relates to poultry, it is well to bear 
in mind that the whole animal creation 
regularly sheds and renews its outer 
coating, whatever may be its form or 
nature. Cuticle, hair, wool, scales, nails, 
and horns, all of which are analogous 
growths, conform to the rule without 
exception, though not all in the same 
way. The cuticle, as in the human 
species, is worn or cast off constantly, 
but so gradually, and in such fine par¬ 
ticles, that the change takes place un¬ 
noticed. Horns are, in some cases, shed 
entire, but usually changed by wear and 
growth only. Hair and wool, as a rule, 
are changed with the seasons; the winter 
coat being shed as summer approaches, 
while that of summer, in due course, is 
replaced by a growth designed, by its 
length and closeness, to retain the ani¬ 
mal heat. Some of the lower orders of 
the animal creation, as serpents and 
crabs, shed their outer coating all in one 
piece, from nose point to tail tip, not 
even excepting the eyes ; much as a man 
might unbutton his coat and throw it 
off whenever he found it too tight, too 
warm, or too much worn. 
Moulting is, no doubt, brought about 
by some change in the circulation of the 
skin; the change being effected b y the 
action of the nerves controlling the 
capillary circulation of the skin. In 
effect, I presume, it amounts simply to 
a cutting off of the regular supply of 
material for the formation of the feath¬ 
ers. A similar change, in some instances, 
takes place from disease, as, for instance, 
the peeling of the skin after scarlet 
fever, the falling of the hair after 
typhoid fever, etc. There is another 
illustration of the process that cannot, 
properly, be said to be brought about by 
disease ; yet it very closely simulates it. 
I refer, of course, to the shedding of the 
feathers during incubation. The abnor¬ 
mal heat of the skin may contribute 
toward the results by the too rapid dry¬ 
ing and condensation of the epithelial 
cells, of which all the varieties of the 
outer investments of animal bodies are 
built up. These cells, at first round and 
soft, as they are forced outward by the 
formation of other cells below them, 
gradually part with their moisture and 
become flattened into scales. These 
scales, so to speak, constitute the build¬ 
ing material, like so many bricks, out of 
which hair, feathers, etc., are formed. 
In the case of the sitting hen, as in 
scarlet fever, there is, actually, a larger 
quantity of blood in the blood vessels of 
the skin than usual ; but that may be 
from its being delayed there in the 
venous capillaries, while less blood 
really is being carried there by the 
arterial system, and consequently, less 
material in a state available for growth. 
Bearing in mind, then, this general 
fact, we may safely conclude that moult¬ 
ing is a physiological, and not a patho¬ 
logical, process ; or in other words, that 
it is the normal, regular and natural 
course of things, and not an effect or in' 
dication of any disordered or diseased 
action. Hence it directly and inevitably 
follows, providing only that the bird is 
in good health, that it is a process that 
may be pretty much left to take care of 
itself. Common prudence, however, 
would teach us the propriety of taking 
more than the usual care to protect the 
bird, while partially denuded of its cloth¬ 
ing, from the cold and wet. The sudden 
call for a supply of material unusual in 
amount and composition, would seem to 
indicate a necessity for meeting it by a 
corresponding change in the diet. Wool, 
hair, and feathers, all, I believe, contain 
a notable proportion of sulphur in their 
composition, as the smell they emit when 
burning would seem to show, and that, 
perhaps, should be regarded as a call 
for the use of articles of food containing 
sulphur, as cabbage, peas, etc. 
I am not aware whether any attempt, 
by practical observation or direct ex¬ 
periment, has ever been made to throw 
such light upon the subject as would 
bring into view a sufficient number of 
facts on which to base reliable rules of 
practice for the correct dieting and care 
of the occupants of the poultry yard at 
this trying period. The human animal, 
we know to be especially liable to suffer 
from a great variety of derangements at 
corresponding times of great physiolog¬ 
ical activity, as, for instance, at the time 
of teething, puberty, the menstrual 
period, and the change of life. 
There are some general rules of con¬ 
duct that may be mentioned as applica¬ 
ble for our guidance in the preservation 
of sound health at all such times of in¬ 
creased vital activity, or change of con¬ 
dition or habit. Whatever tends to ex¬ 
haust the general vigor of the system 
should be avoided ; while everything 
that assists in maintaining it should be 
attended to with care and regularity. 
The use of any fancy compounds of 
secret composition, is urgently to be 
deprecated. If the health is really 
good, that is, free from disease or dis¬ 
order, nothing of the kind can improve 
it. Quietude and moderation in all 
things are to be enjoined ; stimulants of 
whatever nature forbidden ; care should 
be taken to see that all the outlets (or 
drains) for the excreta (waste material) 
should be kept in good order, such as 
the skin, liver, bowels, kidneys, etc., by 
avoiding or removing everything which 
might serve to clog or hinder their 
proper and efficient working. In health 
they can, if fairly treated, be depended 
upon for doing their work honestly 
without any spur or stimulant. A suf¬ 
ficient, not excessive, supply of good 
nutritious food with plenty of pure 
water should be secured, while exposure 
to hurtful influences or disease-produc¬ 
ing poison in the air, the food, the drink, 
the sleeping or the nesting apartments, 
should be guarded against during the 
period of moulting with even more than 
the ordinary care. w. o. K. 
WINTERING COWS WITHOUTHAY. 
On account of the prospect of a very short hay 
crop, and having five extra fine Jersey cows, 
could I winter them on corn stalks, buckwheat 
straw, turnips, wheat bran, corn meal, and lin¬ 
seed meal, and still have them give milk through 
the winter ? Four of them will be fresh in milk 
by the middle of January. How should sowed 
corn fodder be sold, by the bundle or the ton ? 
What is a fair price for it ? What is buckwheat 
straw worth per ton ? E . A . S- 
Tioga, Pa. 
I knew of a herd that, several years 
ago, was kept all winter on, practically, 
grain alone. Grain was cheap and coarse 
fodders dear. They belonged to a milk¬ 
man, gave nearly their average yield, 
and the owner saved money by his 
method of feeding. I know nothing 
about buckwheat straw. With either 
corn stalks, oat straw or wheat straw, 
and a good grain ration, a moderate 
milk yield can be obtained. For a foun¬ 
dation grain ration, use 1,200 pounds of 
bran, 700 pounds of linseed meal, and 100 
pounds of corn meal. The corn meal is 
used chiefly as an appetizer. Feed each 
cow what she can profitably consume of 
this mixture, varying the proportions of 
the different feeds to suit the needs of 
each cow. If the cow have a tendency 
to be constipated, increase the propor¬ 
tion of oil meal in her ration. If her 
bowels become too loose, decrease the 
oil meal and increase the bran. If the 
cow have a tendency to put on too much 
flesh, decrease the corn meal or discard 
it altogether. If she get too thin, give 
her more corn meal and less of the other 
feeds. If straw and corn fodder are 
high, limit the feed to 8 or 10 pounds a 
day. If these rough feeds are cheap, 
give 20 to 25 pounds a day to each cow, 
and use what is uneaten for bedding. 
E. A. S. says that four of his cows will 
be fresh by the middle of January. The 
yield of these cows will depend very 
much upon the treatment they receive 
before calving. Many feeders fail to get 
profitable returns from generous feeding 
of milch cows, because they do not feed 
properly before the cows calve. These 
cows should be fed up to calving so that 
they will keep in good flesh—not too 
—with their bowels open so that their 
droppings will be like those from pas¬ 
tured cows. For a grain ration before 
calving, feed bran and oil meal only. If 
new-process oil meal be used, it will be 
safe to feed equal parts of each. If old- 
process be fed, use three parts of bran 
to two parts of oil meal. If this ration 
does not keep the bowels sufficiently 
loose, give occasional doses of salts— 1% 
pound at a dose. Right feeding before 
calving pays as well as afterward. 
H. M. COTTHH1J. 
Protect Your Stock From Flies. 
Myself and patrons have been so delighted with the 
effectof “Shoo-Fly,” manufactured in Philadelphia, 
Pa., that I made duplicate orders in May, aggregating 
250 quarts. J. W. BUSHEK. 
Kansas City. Mo. 
I have used Shoo-Fly two years on my cows. It 
pays. Send me Twenty-five (25) gallons. 
Kallsington. Bucks Co., Pa. H. W. COMFORT. 
CDCni A I Send 20c.; will return 1 pint Slioo-FIy. 
1 . Name Express Office. $1.50 per gal. One 
;al. lasts 2 animals a season. Freight pd. on 10 gals. 
Shoo-Flv Mfo. Co.. 1005 Fairmount Ave.,Phila., Pa. 
AGENTS WANTED. , 
HIGHEST CLASS REGISTERED 
JERSEY CATTLE 
R. E. SHANNON, PITTSBURGH, PA. 
GUERNSEYS. 
Fifty head choice Cows, Heifers 
and Bulls for Sale. 
EliliERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
KHINECLIFF, N. Y. 
CHENANGO VALLEY 
burgh, Jr., Proprietor. Dorset Horn, Shropshire and 
Kambouillet Sheep, Dutch Belted and Jersey cattle; 
also Poland-Chtna, Jersey Bed and Suffolk Pigs. 
There is a TIME for ADD. and NOW Is that T1MJ5 
to order choice young pigs from best strains. 
Willswood Herd 
Recorded Berkshire Swine. 
W1DDS A. SEW A HD, Budd’s Dake. N. J.. or 207 Broad¬ 
way, N. Y. Can supply you with THOROUGHBRED 
CATTDE from BEST UEKDS. Write for particulars 
and prices. 
Pleurisy Pains, Asthmatic and all Throat and 
Bung Affections, are soon relieved by Dr. D. Jayne’s 
Expectorant. The best family Pill, Jayne’s Painless 
Sanative —Adv. 
SPECIAL 
SALE 
I A GKAND BREEDING 
Guernsey Bull, 
I from grand parents and 
, _ a good stock getter; three 
years old. Send for photograph and particulars. 
Sold asldo not need two; will exchange forcow. Also 
IMPROVED YORKSHIRE PIGS, 
KULL BLOODS; and YOHKSHIKE-CHESTER WHITE 
CR08S. Some Hue pigs. Write for prices. 
CIiOV UK RIJDGK FARM, Peterboro, N. H. 
Ill I" are selling, at reasonable prices, 
Wt POUND-CHINK PIGS 
all ages. Write us what you want; we can please. 
F. H. GATJBS & SONS, Chlttenango, N. y. 
MOST SUCCESSFUL REMEDY 
FOR MAN OR BEAST. 
Certain In Its effects and never blisters. 
Read proofs below: 
KENDALL’S SPAVIN CURE 
Shelby, Mich., Dec. 16 , ’ 93 , 
W. & B. P. Rocks and W. Wyandottes 
Good March to May-hatched Pullets or Cockerels, $1 
One-year Breeding Hens. $1; six for $5. 
One-year Cocks, $2. Eggs, 75c. per sitting. 
__ „ Stock and Eggs guaranteed pure. 
L)K. H. J. ASHLEY, - - Machlas, N. Y. 
Knob Mountain Poultry farm. 
ORANGEVILLE, PA. 
Poultry Breeding Stock and Guernsey Cattle. 
( Dr. B. J. Kendall Co. 
j Sirs ;—I have used your Kendall’s j 
| Spavin Cure with good success for j 
( curbs on two horses and it is the best I 
j Liniment I have ever used. i 
( Yours truly, August Fredrick. 
H 
H 
II 
For Sale by all Druggists, or address 
i| Dr. It. J. KENDALL COMPANY, 
If ENOSBURGH FALLS, VT. 
- - -:==:ii 
SEND 
STAMP for Illustrated Catalogue of BROOK 
SIDE POULTRY FARM, Columbus, N. J 
Qll MEAL. (° P " J2) LINSEED fl|| 
^ * ®"For Horses. Cows, and White r,«s« <1 w I b 
* For Horses. Cows, 
Sheep. Hogs, Fowls, etc. 
Health, Strength, Produc¬ 
tive Power to animals. For 
Pure Linseed Oil, or Meal 
and White Lead’ 
Makes paint last for years 
on House, Barn, Fence,Ac 
“Ready Mixed” paints 
are doubtful quality. 
- - > —- w V/UVVAUL 1A <1# J I UJ 
andWhiteLoad ask for“Thompson’s,”or address mfrs 
17 W. Diamond St..Aliegheuy, Pa.. THOMPSON & CO 
A REAL REMEDY 
Used and Endorsed 
by Adams Ex. Co. 
one that CURES 
Curbs, Splints, Colic, 
all Lamenesses, Shoe 
Boils, Contracted 
and Knotted Cords, 
Callous of all kinds, 
Strained Tendons, 
Scratches, etc., will 1 
be found in 
TUTTLE’S ELIXIR 
’ the only standard Horse Remedy in the world. 
I Doesn’t scar or change the hair. Warranted to 
I locate lameness by remaining moist on part 
I affected; the rest dries out. 
Tuttle’s Family Elixir is a safe cure for 
1 all pain, conquers Rheumatism, Sore Throat, 
1 Colds, Pneumonia, etc. Sample of either Elixir 
free tor three 2 -cent stamps to pay postage. 
1 Fifty cents buys either Elixir of any druggist, 
or It will be sent, charges paid, by 
DR. S. A. TUTTLE, Sole Proprietor, 
37 K Beverly St., - BOSTON, MASS. 
COOPER 
Will — 
make 
wool 
grow 
Book on dipping mailed free, by -w- 
Cooper & Nephews, Galveston, Tex. | | I 
100 gal. pkt. $2, 25 gal. pkt. 50c. JL JL 
If druggist cannot supply, send $ 1.75 for $2 pkt. to 
CYRIL FBANCKLYN, Cotton Exchange, N. Y. City. 
Kills and 
Prevents 
Ticks, 
Lice 
and 
Scab 
PASTEUR 
Anthrax Vaccine 
The only preventive remedy 
for ANTHRAX In CATTLE, 
HORSES, SHEEP, MULES 
and GOATS. 
PASTEUR Anthrax Vaccine Co.,Ltd. 
(Sole Agents United States and Canada), 
No. 56 FIFTH AVENUE, 
CHICAGO. 
< IVWW/WVVVVvVVYVVWWVI 
Galled Horses' 
It s the best. You will swear to this fact if you 
will try CALL POWDER. 50 cents by mail. 
cJ^99REBROS. Albany N. y. * 
•A/VW W WA/SA AA /VWV W WWNO 
SPAVINS 
Absolutely removed and 
permanently cured in 21 
hours without pain, with 
DR. McKEE’S 
MAGIC SPAVIN CURE. 
Spavins, Splints, Ringbones. Curbs, Capped Hocks, 
Kuees and Elbows, Sweeny, Sprains. Swelled Legs. 
Enlarged and Suppurated Glands Rheumatism. Shoe 
Boils, Navicular Disease. Wind Puffs, Joint Lame¬ 
ness, Fistula, Quittor, Lumpy Jaws, Soft Bunches 
Bonjr Growths. For particulars address 
I>r. O. W, McKEE, Benson, Minn. 
PURE BLOODED />- | I ■ _ 
FARM BRED LsOlllG PlIDS 
For Sale Cheap. F. E. WHEELER, Chazy,*N.Y. 
Pfll I IF PIIP C — Blaek and Tan, or Sable; spayed 
UUELIL lUro females; also BERKSHIRE Pigs 
SILAS DECKER, South Montrose, Pa 
DIRECT-UM BIT. 
Best Combination Bit made. 
Severe or Easy. 
as you want It. 
Sample mailed, XC # 1 . 0 '’ 
Nickel j.1.50. 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON 50., Racine, Wis. 
