SEASONAL WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1933, Page 13

SEASONAL WORK

Mcfst of the liens aro beginning to show signs of moulting. As a-good layer lays every day of the week, including Sundays, .she takes an annual rest during the autumn months, during which time she renews her wardrobe. Most hens moult out all their ( feathers (Jand this .process takes from eight'to fifteen months, varying with the strain of the birds,'the'conditions of housing, and the feeding. 'When eggs go .up .to 2s 6d and 3s a dozen 'in* the stops, you will find that everyone's fowls. aforiot laying because they are moulting. Don't worry about your fowls not being good ones because they don't" lay during this period. If you must have eggs during the months of May, June, and July, you must have a supply of pullets to produce them. The ideal household flock -at this time: of the year should coasist of, say, six hens,. four,. September^hatehed pullets, and four October-hatched pullets. Pullets that lay before. April are like-

ly to moult with the lions, but those that come into lay after April usually lay steadily for twelve months. Do not keep any hens longer than two laying seasons. If you have any now that are close on two and a half years old, they should be disposed of as soon as they go into a moult. This state is noticeable by their falling feathers, shrunken combs, and closed pelvic bonev Unless you are interested enough to carry out all the little routine and seasonal jobs associated with poultry keeping, you should make it a, habit to buy a fresh batch of pullets each February. Mark them with a coloured ring so you will know their, age. By quitting, half youtr hens ,and replacing with young pullets each year you will always have a few eggs in tjie autumn months. Keep a sharp-look-out for red mite and body lice. Mite 'live in the cracks of the sheds near the perches, -whilst lice stay on the birds. Both will worry the fowls and retard i-gg production. Nest boxes should' be kept clean, the nesting material changed at least once, a fortnight. Keep your fowlhouse dry, and the floor covered with earth and some kind of scratching litter. Wheaten straw, obtainable at about 3s a bale, is the best litter. Add a little more each week as the birds break it up. Dispose of all surplus cockerels as soon as they are big enough to eat.