Show a FOWLS IN WINTER QUARTERS careful handling while moving will prevent setback in proper production of eggs prepared by the united states department of agriculture the ideal way to manage kanap laying hens la Is to have gul suitable table douses houses at maturity mahi rity with other yards or ranges suited to the hock flock while growing and have each flock of layers occupy tile the same quarters all their lives if pullets must be moved from the quarters have occupied during the growing season every effort should be made to make the change as little disturb ing to them as possible the method of removal will not be the same for all cases and conditions each poultry keeper must consider the situation BK as it exists for his stock and adopt adapt 1 his I Is treatment to the circumstances make the change early in general it Is desirable that pullets be in the houses they are to occupy d during the winter three or four weeks before they are expect expected ed to lay but if the pullets tire are on a good range and placing them in winter quarters would deprive them of this and make it necessary to put them on winter rations several months earlier than it if they remain on the range it may be better to leave them in the small coops in which they were grown until wl winter n then if they are moved gently and carefully and special attention Is gg X wn e r 7 0 CZ contented flock in winter quarters given to making them comfortable and contented in their new home the change may have but slight effect on their egg production whether the change to permanent winter quarters is made before or after laying begins gentle handling and good treatment will go a long way toward offsetting the unfavorable effects of moving pullets in reality it is not the change that Is 13 the chief disturbing factor but the way the change Is made rapid and rough liand handling ling is bad yet most persons think it too much bother to handle liens gently and carefully A little extra time thine and care in movin moving pullets makes a difference of weeks weeks and sometimes months in egg production to change pullets from one coop to another with the mini minimum murn disturbance ante to egg production whether the pullet Is laying or not have the new home ready in every detail it should be clean the floor covered with litter all nests and feeding find and watering equipment ready for use with a feed of scratch grain in the litter and the drinking vessel filled with water move tile the pullets after dark it if only a few birds are to be moved and the distance Is short the best way is to carry them two by two one under each arm the legs being grasped by the thumb and fingers LL and the breast and body of the bird resting on t the lie hand and wrist in this position the bf bird r d feels secure and safe and well weil treated when the number of birds and tile the distance to be traversed make this method too laborious a convenient box or coop should be used the bir birds ds being lifted carefully one by one from their places on the roosts boosts to the box bos the b birds I 1 ads should not be overcrowded and should be taken with the same care from the box on arrival at the new location where they should be placed on oc the floor near the rear of the pen the first thing the hens will ill know about their new home will trill be that as soon as they can see they find feed and drink there with provision made for litter and nests there Is no occasion for an attendant to come into the pen to do anything that in the least disturbs the birds every visit to them the first day or two should be for the purpose of doing something which evert even hens will recognize as done tor for their welfare with this treatment the effects of change are not great it Is a little trouble but it pays |