The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-11-23

Is les" tNc PTOutS are pIoEitOly just dS
greaf. The other plan of winter hous-
ing and care for egg production in
wolves the use of the scratching shed.
which is kept full of leaves. straw or
other litter. into which the grain is
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 restless fashion they will fall
into the egg eating! feather pulling
and other obnoxious habits. In addi
ton to grain in the litter. cabbaScs or
split mangIes may ba 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 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 matter of fact. the effort
to balance the poultry rations by chem
plication of scientific knowledge The
point is that hens have individual pref
erences and will not consume their
food in the portions they are given
and. what Is more, will, II allowed tn
follow their own. Individual instincts
| probably get the chemical elements
they need better than if their owner
attempt to force SO much food down
them in machine-like fashion.
The custom Of feeding hens by ex
|
rapidly within the last few years
This method simpIifies the feeding prob
lem very much and is applicable to al
birds OH range and LeghornS indoors
1t will not do, however, for heavy shut
in fowls. us they will become lazy anG
overfed The foods exposed IN Tho
hoppers should be whole grIilIs, and Il
is best to have separate division II
hoppers for each kind Of grain: other
wise the fowls in scratching for thu
grains they most like will waste tn,
other kind of food This is especially
noticeable when the so called dr..
mash or mixture of dry grains is fct
in the hopper. do not recommend
ground grains fed dry for laying hens
The feeding of Il wet mash is on,
Of the simplest ways OF giving vege
tables or grain food to a large numbe
| of hens quickly. The warm mash ma,
also have some stimulating effect unol
egg production; at least ii is used by
great many successful egg farmers
Such wet mash made of clover. alfalf;
leaves or any cooked vegetables mike,
up to stiff mash with warm water
bran shorts and cornlncal is fed one.
a day. The hour of feeding is inmate
rial, provided the hens have befor
them at all times shelled corn and l's,t,
scrap in hoppers.
The provision of green food in eg
farming is very important both be
cause green food is necessary to sc
hens in good laying condition and be
cause one can materially cut down til
expense of the grain and meat foo
bill by growing abundant forage crop
for poultry. If the colony plan G
houses is followed grain food shoul
be provided by sowing Il series of crop
which in your locality will keep some
thing green on the ground at all time
of the year and moving the hous
about so that the fowls may hav
fresh pasturage. II the fowls. are keI