WINTER time is now hopefully on its way out and we are looking forward to spring and a productive new year is always on our minds. During the winter egg production drops quite rapidly due to the shorter days, the moult and the general temperature. What we all need now, including the hens, is a boost to get us back on track.

During the winter I always feed extra rations as this helps the promotion of a good appetite and will help the birds to produce eggs even through the winter months. Always place their feeders in the lightest place in the house, never in a dark corner; the reason for this is really quite obvious - if they cannot see the feed then they will not eat. Placing the feeders in front of a window is possibly the best place, but make sure the food is under cover to both keep it fresh and contamination free. The birds may well tend to stay indoors in the really bad weather but wherever possible it is better to get them outside into the fresh air; a cold wind will do them no harm.

Inside the poultry unit always make sure that it is kept as clean and dry as possible, this is for the prevention of disease. Poorly hens do not lay. Always allow a good air flow without the draught.

Giving extra vitamins is always a good idea, I personally give certain additives throughout the year, but I do tend to give extra during the winter and spring months.

If, like many people your birds are not completely free range (eg unlimited access to the land), there is a way which will help to keep the birds fit. Just put a grass turf into the pen and this will make the birds scratch and provide them with and interest and also provide exercise. Both of these the birds need to keep them fit and all of these points no matter how small, will help to keep and improve the egg production.

During the winter period we can help to keep the supply to a reasonable level by adding extra lighting. This can be done with the use of a timer but as we all know electricity is not cheap. The Rooster Booster is a specially made device which will take care of extra light. You can also white wash the walls inside to create extra light and windows in the sheds are better if fitted lower to again produce more light. The use of these ideas will help the birds to feed both earlier and later which in turn is needed to keep the birds laying.

During really bad weather conditions the lighter the shed the better because it is better to keep the birds comfortably inside than let them paddle in mud and roam in windy, wet conditions. It will take less them 36 hours to stop them laying from adverse conditions.

One major point to always remember is that if the birds are confined inside be careful not to create over crowding. This again causes major problems with feather pecking, cannibalism and bullying, the results of which can be fatal.

Preparations for the summer Although during the winter the increase in feed helps in various ways for the reasons I have explained this extra feeding does not want to continue into the summer months. There needs to be a change in diet for the spring and summer and what you have to remember is that if the hens are to fat they will not produce as they should although layers must always have sufficient and balanced food to meet their needs or they will not produce eggs. Scraps are not enough! A change in diet is how I help this process with the use of layers pellets during the summer - I find these give the best results, with a small treat of corn in the afternoon scattered on the floor and by this I mean a small treat, too much corn will eventually result in a serious loss of eggs. There is always the problem that if you mix the pellets and corn together there is a good chance that the corn will be eaten first and the pellets will be left. This is both a waste of money and a loss of egg supply, the pellets are a complete feed diet especially produced for egg layers and all they need will be included in that bag of feed. If you prefer mash the same rules still apply. Some people think mash takes longer to eat and therefore keeps them busier - feed dry.

Additives There is a list as long as your arm with regards to additives. One of the best way to deal with this decision is to ask someone who you know to recommend what they believe is the best product, one that has been tried and tested. I always add cod liver oil in small quantities to my feed right through the year, poultry spice is also used in conjunction with the oil. If you use spice on its own all you end up with is a large amount of dust in the bottom of the bucket and the oil helps it stick to the feed and is therefore eaten by the birds and not wasted.

My own opinion is that a water based vitamin which is added to the water is a safer method of vitamin supply. Whatever happens the birds will always drink and the amount each bird receives is evenly distributed.

Battles do a poultry drink, there is a poultry booster available, but one of the best I have found is one called Chick AD which is from the continent, it is available over here and costs around £6 per 500 ml add to the water and it is a simple as that. There are several other excellent additives on the market.

During any part of the year the addition of the odd vitamin and additive is always a good idea, always remember you get back what you put in, and it is really worth the small cost involved and a little extra time.

Keeping any form of poultry is a worthwhile experience and if you decide to keep the birds for egg production then correct management is essential, keeping a few chickens and throwing them some corn may be some people's idea of poultry keeping but it is certainly not mine, cleanliness and keeping the birds content and happy will produce both pleasure and good results.