Show f OV IFO KItry talk t not only fat tanners mere vines but klao also would be pleased if the iho hen ban would ly lay during tho the winter months as an many a bill that could be used profitably in improving the farm arm la is broken to buy groceries writes mrs H C 0 A aker in journal of agriculture the majority do not realize the care it requires to havo have the hans produce eggs during the winter thale was waa a time when we wondered why our hens heas did not lay through the winter as aa they had warm quarters quart cra all the cold water they could drink and plenty of corn we found foun that this was not all they required a change of diet was necessary and hav having tried a mixed ration of all that la in usually raised on a farm pome ot of the hens would lay but not all by any means we tried giving them grit meat and bones regularly with good results it there are others whose nearest marketing place Is small email and green bone cannot always be gotten we will tor for their benefit tell how we manage after butchering we cook all scraps to be more explicit the lungs kidneys snout gnout hoofs etc until perfectly tender after making cheese of the hogs beads we save all of the bones also the spare ribs back bones and so on these are fed every other day we cook rabbits for them and after bolling boiling these scraps rabbits and so on there will be a greasy broth by stirring bran into this one will have another meal of egg producing food hens hen will refuse corn any time tor for green bone or grit at this time the ashes hove have to be removed from the stoves so often we alft these occasionally about twice 0 wee week and give the hens the charcoal A close observer will find that there are several hens la in every flock that will not produce essa eggs during the winter under any conditions thetis these had bad better be disposed of by marketing or prepared for food as aa they are unprofitable and occupy room that la Is needed for hens that will produce eggs it Is well not to crowd bens as an a number comfortably housed will produce more eggs our hennery la Is inexpensive but is comfortable when our first snowstorm began we did not watt wait until night might for our hens to come to the roost but got them all in a as soon as ail it began to snow and at the present writing the thermometer indicating 12 degrees above zero at noon we do not allow them outside of the hennery but open the door in the laying room and replace it with a screen door so BO that they have air and sunshine the care of poultry Is not hard work but their wants must be attended to regularly the greater the experience the more knowledge you gain in regard to them I 1 think where one has the time to devote to the rearing and marketing of 0 poultry and eggs that there la is an independence in it our hens bens being large suit us in regard to shape size and plumage but we find that being a nearly pure breed that they do not I 1 lay ay so eo often or so young it requires more boore time tor for them to mature but as aa eggs are what we are working tor for we will cross with the brown leghorns Leg horns borns the coming spring |