The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-14
Feeding Poultry to Produce Eggs.

A correspondent writes that his
chickens are in good condition and
have the freee run of the barn-yard and
farm, but are not laying eggs, although
the season for laying is at hand. He
asks what he shall feed to his poultry
to produce eggs. This query is an OPP
perfume one, and the reply may be OF
general interest.
Before considering the question of
food, it may be well to state that Sc
soon as old fowls have ceased laying in
the autumn, and before they have lost
condition by melting, they should, un-
less Hamburgs or Brahmas, be either
killed or sold off and replaced by pull
Iets Matched in March or April, which
will have molted early. These pull
lets, with proper food and housing, will
all produce eggs by November. When
fowls are kept for eggs it is essential to
ksuccess that every autumn the stock be
replaced with pullets Matched early in
the spring. By no other means can
eggs be relied on. The only exception
to this rule is in the case of Cochins,
Brahmas or Hamburgs, which will lay
through winter up to their second and
sometimes their third year.
A indieious system of feeding is es-
sentiaf In winter. There is danger in
overfeeding. A fat hen is not only sub
ject to disease but ceases to lay. On
the other hand. fowls are not remuner-
alive unless sufficiently fed. The al
mosvdaily production of an article sc
rich in nitrogen as an egg demands IN
ample and regular supply of adequate
81
always holds good with adult fowls,
viz, give them as much as they viii
eat eagerly and no more. When fowls
begin to feed with Indifference the sup
ply should be stopped.
If the fowls have a run OF moderate
extent. so that they can forage for
themselves. two meals per day Will be
found sufficient, one in the early morn
ing and the other the last thing before
they go to roost But when fowls are
kept in confinement they will require
scant midday meal
The morning meal should consist of
soft, warm food. Small potatoes and
potato pealings, boiled until soft and
mixed with bran or meal slightly scaid-
ed, makes an excellent soft feed. In
mixing soft food always mix it rather
dry. The evening meal should be OF
grain. Barley is excellent and Indian
corn NAV be adFantageousiy given
every second and third day. Buck
wheat has stimulating effect upon the
production of eggs, and could it be OBJ
tanned at a cheap enough rate would be
recommended. Another important arti
Gle of diet is green or vegetable food;
give cabbage leaves, turnips, ETC., in
small quantities every day. In addi-
ton to their regular food it is needful
that fowls have supply of lime in one
shape or another. Old mortar pounded
is excellent, so are burnt oyster shells
Never leave the fowls without plenty OF
clean water.
Nests may be of any form, but are
best placed on or near the ground. A
form of nest employed abroad, and ad-
vantageous because readily cleaned, is
a basket shape, fat on one side, and
hung low to nail In the WALL These
baskets are of wi-s. hence do not har-
Dor vermin. The straw placed in the
nests should be changed as often rs
there is any foul or musty smell.
A change of food at times will be ben
w nth NHC hC6NlCI - W III duQ
the production of eggs abundant the
food should abound in heterogeneous or
fesh-forming material, snd not contain
too much starch or oil, both of which,
being carbonaeeous. have warmth
giving and fattening properties; but in
cold weather. when the eggs are fewer
fhsn in summer: less of the heterogeneous
api fnore of the carbonaceous food will
bcSsquired.
One word more. Fowls require so me
portion of animal food; on wide range
they viii provide this for themselves;
when in confinement it must be fur
nished. Scraps from the table are good.
Animal food need not be given more
than three times per week, and only in
small quantities. liz the fowls are over
ted with meat scraps the Guills of the
feathers become more or less charged
with blood. which the birds In time per
eeiye and pick at each others plumage
until they have the skin bare. 1t Is
well In winter to add to the drinking
water few drops of sulphate of iron,
Just enough to impart Slight mineral |
taste; this viii in a measure cuard |
against ronp and act as tonic.-L T. |
EOrsS.