The Florida agriculturist., 1905-12-06

d
several others, that success is not due
to that particular method of feeding
alone, but is the result of the whole
experience acquired, and would al
most certainly have been attained
sooner by persistence in the first meth
Od adopted.
Practice Makes Perfect"-Take
any good method (there are many of
them) and learn to use it. AS far as
the instructions given are definite, try
to follow them to the letter. Where
they tell you to use your judgment,
but give as they usually do, some
right, begin by using these approx
statement of what should be about
mate instructions and follow them un-
til you have reason to suppose that
some variation from them should be
made. Then make the variation
slight. For instance, in feeding fowls
what is called ''a full feed" of grain,
the amount an average laying hen
will take as an ordinary handful
a heaping handful, but what one
would grasp in the hand with the hand
closed enough so that even if turned
over only a few grains would fall.
This is a rough way of measuring
l,
men become surprisingly accurate in
measuring grain out in this way as
they scatter it for fowls. They know
or should know how many fowls are
in each flock. 1t they expect the grain
to be eaten clean, as when fed on
bare ground or very short litter, they
give what they think the fowls will
clean up. If they are feeding in deep
litter they give more-as much more
as they think necessary to let the
fowls get a full feed of the grain in
the time allowed. The judgment as
to quantity does not have to be alb
solutely accurate every time because
as we saw in considering scientific
balancing of food elements, the fowl
could adapt them to it's needs to some
extent, so a fowl in good condition
will not suffer if occasionally short
fed, for it has it's reserves of fat to
draw upon. Also the fowl occasionally
Over-fed is not injured by it. If the
feeder lis onto his job he quickly
notes that the food is not eaten, or
if it is eaten the appetite is poorer at
the next meal, and he feeds short
for a meal or two, or perhaps omits
a meal, and the fowl is soon feeding
right again.
Feeling the Way.-To go back to
the novice, if feeding what he esti-
mates to be the average amount his
number of fowls should get, they are
in good condition and laying well, he
may reasonably conclude ha he is
feeding about right and keep right
on giving that quantity.
If the fowls while in good condition,
bright and hearty, do not lay well,
the natural conclusion is that they
need a little more food, and the ration
should be increased. In such a case
as this it is advisable to handle the
fowls to ascertain just what condition
they are in. If rather thin in flesh it
is better to increase a little on every
feed. If in pretty fair flesh it may
be better to increase only on one meal
each day-for if fed too heavily they
may fatten instead of beginning to
lay as desired.
If hens begin to show lack of ap-
petite, and "go off their feed,'' the
rations should be reduced, and if a
mash is fed it is best to make the
principal reduction; in the mash, for
that is the meal that they get with
least effort, and exercise is one of
the best restoratives of condition and
appetite.
When in doubt the novice should
re-lead his Instructions and if he