The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-09
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 op-
perfume one, and the reply may be OF
general interest.
Before considering the question OF
food, it may be well TO state that so
soon as old fowls have ceased laying in
the autumn, and before they have lost
condition by molting, 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
oil produce eggs by November. When
fowls are kept for eggs it is essential to
success that every autumn the stock be
replaced with pullets hatched 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 iudicious system of feeding is es-
sential in winter. There is danger in
overfeeding. A fat hen is not only sub
iect to disease but ceases TO lay. On
the other hand. fowls are not remuner-
ative unless sufficiently fed. The al
most daily production of an article so
yich in nitrogen as an egg demands an
ample and regular supply of adequate
} food. There is one simple rule that
always holds good with adult fowls,
viz, give them as much as they will
, eat eagerly and no more. When fowls
begin to feed with indifference the sup
0 ply should be stopped,
0 Ii the fowls have 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 90 to roost. But when fowls are
+ kept in confinement they will require a
!. 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 scald'
ed, makes an excellent soft feed. In
mixing soft food always mix it rather
dry. The evening meal should be o.
grain. Barley is excellent and Indiar
corn may be advantageously giver
every second and third day. Buck
wheat has stimulating effect upon thu
= production of eggs, and could it be OBJ
tanned at cheap enough rate would b
recommended. Another important arti
Gle of diet is green or vegetable food
give cabbage leaves, turnips, etc., il
small quantities every day. In add
ton to their regular food it is needfu
NJ. that fowls have supply of lime in on
shape or another. Old mortar pounde'
is excellent, so are burnt. oyster shells
Never leave the fowls without plenty Q
clean water.
: Nests may be of any form, but ar
: best placed on or near the ground.
form of nest employed abroad, and ad
vantageous because readily cleaned,
basket shape, fiat on one side, an
hung low to nail in the wall. Thes
baskets are of wire, hence do not hal
" bor vermin. The straw placed in th
: nests should be changed as often q
A. there is any foul or musty smell.
A change Of food at times will be Der
. eficial. When the weather is warm an
the production of eggs abundant th
- food should abound in nitrogeneous G
N flesh-forming material, and not contai
too much starch or oil, both of which
ter being carbonaceous, have warmth
i'm giving and fattening properties; but
S. cold weather, when the eggs are fewe
a.. than in summer. less of the nitrogeneor
,ry and more of the carbonaceous food wi
he be required.
ust One word more. Fowls require so n
en portion of animal food; on awide rang
a. they will provide this for themselve
ain when in confinement it must be fu
Inc nished. Scraps from the table are goo
me me Animal food need not be given mo
uh, IN than three times per week, and only
,ns aiS small quantities. If the fowls are owe
'n' fed with meat scraps the quills of ii
feathers become more or less charge
ish with blood, which the birds in time pc
ler ceive and pick at each others plumas
& until they have the skin bare. 1t
well in winter to add to the drinkir
water few drops of sulphate of iro
VS.; Just enough to impart slight miner
ure taste this will in measure qua
against roup and act as a tonic.-N