The record-union., 1896-09-06
FARM and ORCHARD.
Further Extracts From the Government
Poultry Bulletin.
Mistake Of Feeding Too Much Corn
Green Food Necessary to the
Production of Eggs.

PRODUCTION OF Eggs.
The bulletin from which we quoted
last week contains much of interest.
Among other things it says:
Farmers who keep only small flock
of hens, chiefly to provide eggs for the
family. frequently make a mistake in
feeding too much corn. 1t has been
clearly proven by experiment that corn
should not form very large proper
ton of the grain ration for laying hens.
1t is too fattening, especially for hens
kept in close confinement. Until the
past few years corn has been consid-
cred the universal poultry food of
America. This, no doubt, has been
largely brought about by its cheapness
and wide distribution. The recent low
prices Of wheat have led farmers to feed
more OF this grain than formerly, and
with consequent Improvement in the
poultry ration. .
When comfortable quarters are pro-
vided for the fowls, the nutritive ratio
Of the food should be about 1:4-that is,
one part Of protein or muscle-produc-
ing compounds to four parts of carbo-
hydrates or heat and fat-producing
compounds. Wheat is to be preferred
to corn. Oats make an excellent food,
and perhaps come nearer the ideal than
most any other single grain. particu
larly if the hull can be removed.
Buckwheat, like wheat, has too wide
a nutritive ratio if fed alone, and pro-
duces a white flesh and light-colored
yolk II fed in very large quantities. In
forcing fowls for egg production, as in
forcing animals for large yields of
milk, it is found best to make up q
ratio of many kinds of grain. This in
variably gives better results than enc
or two kinds of grain, although the nu-
tritive ratio of the ration may be about
the same. 1t has been found by exper-
iment that the fowls not only relish
their ration more when composed of
many kinds Of grain, but that a some
what larger percentage Of the whole
ration is digested by them than when
1t is composed of fewer ingredients. It
has been clearly proven by experiment
that food consumed by the fowls influ-
ences the flavor Of the eggs; that, in
extreme cases, not only is the flavor of
the food impaired to the eggs, but also
the odor. This of itself is sufficient
reason for always supplying wholesome
food for the fowls and seeing to it that
none but wholesome food is consumed.
1t Is conceded by the majority of
poultrymen that ground or soft food
should form a part of the daily ration.
AS the digestive organs contain the
least amount Of food in the morning,
1t is desirable to feed the soft food at
this time. for the reason that it will be
digested and assimilated quicker than
the whole grain. A mixture of equal
parts, by weight, Of corn and oats
ground, added to an equal weight of
wheat bran and fine middlings, makes
a good morning food if mixed with
milk or water, thoroughly wet without
being sloppy. If the mixture is inclined
tc be sticky, the proportion of bran
should be increased. A little linseed
meal will improve the mixture, par
ticularly for hens during the molting
period. or for chickens when they are
growing feathers. If prepared meat
scrap or animal meal is to be fed, it
should be mixed with this soft food in
proportion of about one pound to twen-
ty-five hens. It will be necessary to
feed this food in troughs to avoid soil
ing before it is consumed.
The grain ration should consist
largely of whole wheat, some oats and
perhaps a little cracked corn. This
should be scattered in the litter which
should always cover the floor of the
poultry house. 1t is necessary to have
the floor of the poultry house covered
with a litter Of some kind to insure
cleanliness. Straw. chaff, buckwheat
hulls, cut cornstalks all make excellent
litters. The object of scattering the
grain in this litter is to give the fowls
exercise. All breeds Of fowls that are
noted for egg production are active,
nervous and like to be continually at
work How to keep them busy is a
problem not easily solved. Feeding the
grain as described will go long way
toward providing exercise. If the fowls
are fed three times day they should
not be fed all they will eat at noon.
Make them find every kernel At night.
just before going on the perches, they
should have all they will eat up clean.
At no time should mature fowls be fed
more than they can eat Keep them
always active, always on the lookout
for another kernel of grain
GREEN FOOD.
While perhaps not strictly necessary
for their existence, some kind of green
food is necessary for the greatest pro-
duction of eggs. Where fowls are kent
in pens and yards throughout the wear.
1t Is always best to supply some green
food. The question how to supply the
best food most cheaply is one that each
individual must solve largely for him.
self. In general way, however. IT
may be said that during the winter
and early spring months mangel wur-
zels, if properly kept, may be fed to
good advantage. The fowls relish
them and they are easily prepared. AS
1t is not difficult to grow from ten to
twenty tons of these roots per acre.
their cost Is not excessive. In feeding
these beets to focks Of hens a very
good practice is simply to split the root
lengthwise with a large knife. The
fowl will then be able to pick out all
of the crisp, fresh food from the ex-
posed cut surface. These large pieces
have the advantage over smaller pieces
in this respect: The smaller pieces.
when fed from troughs or dishes will
be thrown into the litter and soiled
more or less before being consumed bv
the fowls, and, in fact, MANY pieces
Will become so dirty that they will not.
nor should be eaten. Large pieces can
not be thrown about, and remain clean
and fresh until wholly consumed.
Clover, during the early spring. is
perhaps one of the cheapest and best
foods. 1t Is readily eaten when cut