The Princeton union., 1892-04-07
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD,
NITRoGENoUs RATloNs FOR
LAYING HENS.

RESULTS Of the Expe riment at the New
York Agricultural Experiment. Sta
4tion- Stock Notes and House
hold Helps.
Feeding Experiment. With Laying Hens
In connection with the study of
more or less heterogeneous rations for
laying hens, there were fed during
twelve months four pens of fowls.
Two pens one of the smaller and one
OF the larger breeds, had throughout
the year nitrogenous grain ration,
while the two contrastel pens had
during the same time a more carbon
aceous ration.
The fowls Of contrasted pens were
similar in regard to breed. age and
Immediate parentage, and until five
months old were under the same con-
dltlons of feed, ETC.; but for the year
preceding this trial were under rations
OF the same character for each pen,
respectively as those fed during this
last period. The year from which the
results are here given included tho
whole of the second laying season,
the fowls being all mature, averaging
about seventeen months old, when this
experiment began.
Pens No. 5 and No. z each contained
SIX hens, s. c. w. Leghorns and w.
=. +. Polish. and pens No 6 and No.
s each contained eight hens P. Rocks,
Light Brahmas and B. Cochins Pens
5 and 6 were fed oats, Indian corn on
cob, and q mixture of ]inseed meal,
bran and ground oats; pens 7 and s
corn meal, corn on cob and oats, and
all were fed corn ensilage, red clover
and sometimes meat scraps. Tho
moisture in the food varied from time
to time. =.
The fowls had small but clean and
comfortable quarters indoors, and dur
ing good weather each pen was al
lowed an open yard about 5Ox1O feet in
size. No grass grew in any of the
yards and inasmuch as they had been
used, with frequent spading, for poul-
try during several years very little
animal food could have been found.
None of these fowls were troubled with
lice or roup.
The fowls having the more nitro
genous ration were always in better
health, and their plumage. except
during short moulting period, was
always full and glossy, while those
having the more carbonaceous ration
were oftener sick and their plumage
was always ragged and dull. For
some time during the first year the
vices OF feather pulling and egg eat
ing We're common among the latter.
The product of eggs, however, from
the hen having the corn meal ration,
was over 2S per cent more in number
and in weight over % per cent great
er than from those with the more nj
trogenous food. With fowls of the
smaller breeds, which are considered
the better layers, the number of eggs
was over 81 per cent higher. and the
weight about 49 per cent greater from
those fed the less nitrogenous ration.
The total food and water-iree food
consumed were very similar in
amounts whether the fowls were un-
der nitrogenous or carbonaceous ra-
tions. The chief differences noticeable
were that the difference in No. 2.
where the fowls were heavier and Law.
ing more than in No. 5, was greater
per fowl, although the amount for
every pound live weight was the same;
and that in No s. where the fowls
were heavier and laying about the
same as in No. 6 the amount per fowl
was practically the same, although the
amount consumed, live weight was
less.
The best return from food con-
sumed during any period was from
April 10Th TO May 18th.
The product of eggs secured dur
ing the second laying season, even
with the disadvantage of the same
foods for two consecutive years was
but little less than that of the first
season. There are usually about
three months between the first and
second laying seasons. If there
should be four the cost of main
tenance during that time, for hens
entirely dependent on the feed box
would be, at the ordinary prices of
grain an average of about nineteen
cents for the smaller breeds, and
about "a cents for the larger; so unless
pullets can be produced at less cost
there would appear little advantage
in replacing hens the first year. as is
so often recommended, except where
great difference in the market values
of one and two-year old fowls exists.
With breeding stock of course this
question has not been considered.
The results of several feeding ex-
periments indicate that for laying
fowls of smaller breeds, Indian corn
or corn meal can be fed in quite large
proportion with considerable margin
in its favor over certain more nitro
genous foods but that while smaller
fowls, even when confined, suffer little
serious disadvantage under the ration,
larger breeds will not endure for longer
periods a very large proportion OF
corn meal in their feed and unless at
liberty, will do better with a some
what more nitrogenous ration.
For exhibition stock highly nitro
genOuS ration is to he recommended