The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-06-18
Idaho Country Life =
EGG PRODUCTION

\ There appears to be great deal OF
uncertainty in the minds of poultry
keepers as to the best methods OF
feeding for egg production. This un-
certainty exists not only among those
Iwho have recently established henner-
les, but also among those who have
spent years In raising chickens. We
do not refer to those who give their
entire time and thought to the SUBJ
ject, but to the small farmers, gar
deners, business men and clerks who
keep few hens, say 20 to 100, for
the sake Of the fresh eggs, boilers
and roasters they get for their table,
and for the pleasure they derive from
this source of supply for part Of their
living. The business men In this oc-
Icupation are scientific, 80 to speak,
In the care and feeding and breeding
OF their pens, and usually make
money at 1t. On the other hand, the
keeper Of small flock OF hens Is
often disturbed by stories he hears
OF great success In getting eggs from
feeding this, that and the other thing,
or In some peculiar way of feeding,
while she Is reaping only moderate
success by adhering to her plan. She
Is tempted to change her method. and
often does change her method for
one that 10 heralded ais the great egg
producer. @
There are few things that may
be called basic principles In keeping
hens, to which, ii one will adhere,
she will get eggs in paying quantities.
In the first place one must have a
good strain. Whatever breed is
chosen, the laying strain must be OBJ
tanned In order to get results. There
are barred rocks that grow big and
fat and lay a few eggs; there are 9TH
er barred rocks that grow big and lay
many eggs, II Is this strain Of lay
Ing hens that must be secured. In
the next place late Matched pullets
will not lay eggs before January, To
get early eggs, in November and De-
cemEar, the pullets must be Matched
IN March or early April. Proper feed
and care will, ii the two essentials
named are secured, produce satisfying
results.
AS to feed, It is disconcerting to at
tempt to follow every idea suggested
IN community of poultry raisers,
where there will be almost as many
methods as there are men. One poul-
try paper says 1.-THE dry mash has
come to stay" which Is probably true.
It Is easier and simpler and in some
respects safer to feed dry than wet
food. But, whether one adheres to
the hot mash or the dry mash, hens
need bran and cornmeal, middlings
or shorts, with plenty OF grit and oys-
ter shells and water. For whole
grain they need corn and oats, or
whatever grain the farm produces.
These grains must be fed in proper
proportions to obtain results; and any
good farm paper will give these Too
much corn will produce fat; too little
will keep the stock poor This gen
eral idea will govern any one in feed
ing. Some sort of meat scraps or
ground bone is generally useful, and
cabbage or beets once in while.
AS to care, one essential Is cleanli-
ness. Keep the pens clean and the
roasting places busted with sifted
ashes, and to fight lice spray with
kerosene or some OF the mixtures
made for that purpose. The pens
should be dry and light and airy,
without drafts, and warm enough in
cold weather SO that the combs will
not freeze. In severe weather hens
Will do fully as well If kept in their
houses. Exposure to cold north winds
Will stop laying. In the next place,
one should study the needs Of his own
flock. What will do for the neigh
boris flock may not do for his, ex-
cept by adapting 1T, which one must
do for himself. In fact, every one
must find out for himself what will
be most beneficial in food and care
for his own flock, and, while he may
listen to every tale with advantage,
ne will be wise to make changes slow
ly.