Milford chronicle., 1910-08-19

good as where more care is taken with
the hens in winter, but as the expense
is less the profits are probably just as
great. The other plan Of winter hous-
ing and care for egg production in
wolves the use Of the scratching shed
which is kept fun Of leaves. straw or
other litter. into which the grain iE
frequently scattered so that the fowls
are kept busy exercising
The distinction should also be made
here between the Leghorns and heavy
breeds. enforced exercise being much
more essential in the latter case. Hens
that are kept shut indoors must be
provided with something TO occupy
their attention. for if standing around
in a restless fashion they will fall
into the egg eating, feather pulling
and other obnoxious habits. In addi-
tion TO grain in the litter. cabbages or
split mangles may be fastened to the
walls Of the henhouse for the hens to
peck at. The whole attention and care
Of the successful poultryman should
be directed toward seeing that the
hens are busy, cOntented and happy
There is a knack about this that is
very hard to describe in words.
Feeding.
The principle Of feeding hens is not
particularly different from that Of /
feeding young and growing chicks
Water, grit, meat, grain and green
food are the essentials, and if any one
is neglected good results cannot be
obtained. A great deal has been writ
ten and said in poultry papers and
government bulletins about balanced
rations. AS a matter Of fact, the effort
to balance the poultry rations by chem
ical statistics is more or less a misap-
plication Of scientific knowledge. The
point is that hens have individual pref
erences and viii not consume their
food In the portions they are given
and, what is more, viii, if allowed to
follow their own individual instincts.
probably get the chemical elements
they need better than If their owner
TO force so much food down
them in machine-like fashion.
The custom Of feeding hens by ex-
posing grain in hoppers has progressed
rapidly within the last few years.
This method simplifes the feeding prob
lem very much and is applicable TO all
birds on range and Leghorns indoors
1t will not do. however, for heavy shut
In fowls, as they will become lazy and
Overfed. The foods exposed in the
hoppers should be whole grains, and it
is best to have a separate division in
loppers for each kind Of grain; other
wise the fowls in scratching for the
grains they most like will waste the
,ther kind of food This is especially
noticeable when the so called dry
nash or mixture Of dry grains is fed
Il the Hopper do not recommend
round grains fed dry for laying hens
The feeding of a wet mash is one
# the simplest ways of giving vege-
ables or grain food to large number
T hens quickly. The warm mash may
lso have some stimulating effect upo1
gg production; at least it is used by
reat many successful egg farmers.
uch wet mash made of clover, alfalfa
caves or any cooked vegetables mixed
p to a stiff mash with warm water.
ran shorts and cOrnmeal is fed once
day. The hour Of feeding is inmate
Ial. provided the hens have before
hem at all times shelled corn and beef
crap in hOppers
The provision Of green food in egg
lrming is very important both be-
ause green food is necessary to get
ems in good laying condition and be-
ause one can materially cut down the
Ipense of the grain and meat food
i'll by growing abundant forage crops
1r poultry. If the colony plan Of
Ouses is followed grain food should
e provided by sowing a series of crops
hich in your locality will keep some
ling green on the ground at all times q
the year and moving the house
bout so that the fowls may have
esh pasturage. II the fowls are kept