St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-23
HAY FOR POULTRY.
70 Makes Hens Healthy and ViEorouss
end Produces Moro Eggs.

70 Makes Hens Healthy and VtEorou.s
end Produces Moro Es<a
There is undoubtedly much good
sense in the belief which many Of our
readers are rapidly adopting. that
poultry can use more or less preserved
grass to advantage. Some are using II
in ensilage and others in its dry form.
When it is dry it may readily be
chopped fine. soaked in hot water. and
thrown into the hen-hOusc or mixed
with meal. bran. etc. In summer hsns
can secure . large quantity OF green
fodder il they have range. but in win
ter. although there may be no restric-
tions to their liberty, most States in
the Union prevent tho birds from OBJ
tanning that which is OF such vital
necessity to good production and thrift
Bulk appears TO be necessary with
the concentrated grain food which
poultry require. II, as it is asserted.
over 100 grains of lime are needed for
each eggshell. the bones Of the
chick. etc, and as 1000 lbs.
'of wheat or corn contains less
than l. lh. of lime. the hen is
starving for lime. Because the hen
can not extract lime from food which
does not contain it. she is oftentimes
condemned. White clover cured con-
tains 20 to 80 times as much lime as
wheat or grain. supplies tho hens
needs, and being q perfect albumen
producer is equal to corn or wheat.
pound for pound, rs q fesh-forming.
nitrogenous food. Corn contains Sc
per cent of heat elements and clover
IS per cent OF the phosphates. clover
contains Z times as much Us corn. 10
times as much as sulphur or magnesia,
4 times a. much as soda, and fully as
much dry matter. With clover hay,
hens can be fed for egg production in
the most perfect and economical way,
provided. of course. it be accompanied
by the usual ration Of grain. perhaps q
little less. F. a. Mortimer. Of Potts
vile. Pa. who keeps 1000 birds and
feeds with great intelligence and
profit. says that il he had known OF
the value OF clover hay for hens four
years ago he could have saved 81. 900.
Since beginning to use it he finds
fewer sick hens. has more eggs and
the birds are more vigorous and po-
tent.
The hen has a disadvantage in not
being allowed to roam, even II grass
be brought her. for she can not nat
urally cat food in long form. One end
of the stalk must be fastened to the
ground. She can 60 into tho feld and
pull leaves from the standing grass.
but If it be mown she can not cat 1t.
This causes her to become crop bound.
Hay, to be valuable, must be chopped
into very short lengths The proper
way to prepare clover is to cut it in
the afternoon. scald it in tub by
pouring over it boiling water and then
allowing it to stand covered with an
old carpet or blanket over night. In
the morning it will often be still warm
and possess a fresh odor. To every
bucketful OF dry hay. add one quart OF
the following: Ground corn, ground
oats and bran. 10 pounds; linseed meal.
l pound; salt. ounce Mix this well
and feed it in a trough, giving the
hens all they will eat. morning and
afternoon. A single bucket OF dry
clover scalded at night and treated to
grain will feed so hens or moro. and
no other green food will be necessary.
The great advantage of clover hay lies
in the fact that the lime it contains
has all been prepared. ready for as
similation by the hen through its CON-
bination with the vegetable acids.
One hundred pounds OF clover digested
produces 8 pounds of soluble lime pre-
pared by nature for immediate use.-
r. H. Jacobs in Farm and Home.