SUMMER CARE OF HENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 29

SUMMER CARE OF HENS.

As a rule aIL flocks "lay well in spring and' early summer, but when the weather becomes hot they are .apt to begin to "let

up." At this season eggs are likely to, be quite high, hence a good' part of the year is lost. While we expect there will "be a falling off to some extent at this time and during the moulting period, I believe that' by proper feeding and good care a good many eggs may be. had at this season. :We feed quite heavily of grain in cold ■weather- and give mashes, etc., and I think .tve 1 are too apt to coniinue these rations edong in the summer. In other words, we do.- not- adjust our plans of feeding tc meet the external conditions. In cold weather

•the hens must have more fattening food, meat, etc.. but as the weather- becomes .-warm so- much of this is not required, and when the^ weather gets hot', unless the hens sfre shut" in close, very little or none of this kind of food is needed. In fact, if fed it w?ll do more harm than good, for it will go to make fat, and that is what should be avoided. There is less danger of over-

feeding- of grain to hens on open range than to those confined in yards, for they balance it? with the grass, worms, etc., that ■they, pick up. So if we are observing and learn, what hens- eat when, at liberty-, we can them with better, results when they are penned up. It has been my experience tha-t- hens need more bulky food than is ordinarily given them. Feeding so much concentrated", food, and no vegetables or green- stuff, tends to create conditions fa.vourable. to disease. While a good deal of thi3 bulky food may not contain the elements- that go to make eggs, .it is valuable in- diluting the concentrated foods, helping t<y> keep i the hens in a thrifty condition. I jan- quite favourable to feeding- the mash at night in warm weather instead of in the - tnorning, and in summer I seldom feed a ' mash- oftener than -three days of. the week, Mid then only just about one-half as much as in the cold- weather. Equal parts of bran middlings and- ground oats make a {food summer mash. A- small ajnount of inseed' meaPis also valuable, as in summer Ur aids in making feathers and preparing them for the motilt. If I have skim milk, t always use this in wetting- up the mash. JFbr yarded hens that are unable to get green stuff, I' provide cut" clover, by placing it" in racks, or boxes with clats- nailed on

jsides, so they can reach in and eat the clover, and yet not pet into it. I find "clover very valuable, both for summer and .winter feeding. If possible have z little Batch of clover where the hens can go in : and eat every day, if only for an hour or so: IT it has- to be cut for the hens, it can Be- mored three or four times during the ■jrammer. But if we do not have the clover,- then some other grasses may be nsed with good results, b"ut all kinds should ~fc"&. cut fine when placed in the boxes. iHens will consume a good deal of refuse from the garden, if pains are taken to pi-a-Jjare it for them such as oelerv and cabbage trimmings, chopped onion tops, and lettuce 1 have had excellent results by feeding all

the dry grain through a feeding machine ; this plan lengthens out the feeding time and keeps them busy The importance ot pure water or wholesome skim milk to drink in warm weather .cannot oft over-estimated, and grit, shell, and charcoal should not be omitted, neither should a close watch for lice and mites, which no dovibt are responsible to a greater extent for t>oor promts in summer than any other one thing. — Vicky's Magazine.